‘Cearadactylus atrox’ a junior synonym of Brasileodactylus araripensis
57 views
Skip to first unread message
Ben Creisler
Nov 30, 2025, 1:03:29 PM (7 days ago) Nov 30
to DinosaurMa...@googlegroups.com
Ben Creisler
R. V. Pêgas, Anderson S. Nascimento, Lucas C. Piazentin, Felipe L. Pinheiro, Hussam Zaher & Fabiana R. Costa (2025)
Untangling the identity of Romualdo pterosaurs: ‘Cearadactylus atrox’ as a junior synonym of Brasileodactylus araripensis (Pterosauria, Anhangueridae)
Historical Biology (advance online publication)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2025.2582068
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2582068
The Romualdo Formation (Aptian–Albian) of the Araripe Basin is renowned for its exceptional three-dimensional fossil preservation, including a rich pterosaur assemblage. One of such pterosaurs from the Romualdo Formation is Brasileodactylus araripensis, described in 1984 from a partial mandible, being the first pterosaur from this unit with cranial remains, followed by ‘Cearadactylus atrox’ in 1985, based on an almost complete skull with artificial restorations. The distinction between these taxa has traditionally relied on characteristics such as the presence of accessory occlusal grooves in the dentary, bifurcation of the anterior occlusal groove, and alveolar spacing patterns. In this study, we reassess the holotype of B. araripensis and compare it to all referred specimens, including those attributed to ‘C. atrox’. Our analysis reveals that the diagnostic differences between the holotypes are either due to preservation biases or based on previous misinterpretations. Furthermore, the referred specimens exhibit a combination of features formerly considered exclusive to each taxon. We thus propose that ‘C. atrox’ is indistinguishable from B. araripensis and should be considered a junior synonym of the latter. A revised hypodigm for B. araripensis now includes four specimens, united by a newly identified feature: a row of paired neurovascular foramina siding with the dentary occlusal groove.
=====
A new paper:
R. V. Pêgas, Anderson S. Nascimento, Lucas C. Piazentin, Felipe L. Pinheiro, Hussam Zaher & Fabiana R. Costa (2025)
Untangling the identity of Romualdo pterosaurs: ‘Cearadactylus atrox’ as a junior synonym of Brasileodactylus araripensis (Pterosauria, Anhangueridae)
Historical Biology (advance online publication)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2025.2582068
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08912963.2025.2582068
The Romualdo Formation (Aptian–Albian) of the Araripe Basin is renowned for its exceptional three-dimensional fossil preservation, including a rich pterosaur assemblage. One of such pterosaurs from the Romualdo Formation is Brasileodactylus araripensis, described in 1984 from a partial mandible, being the first pterosaur from this unit with cranial remains, followed by ‘Cearadactylus atrox’ in 1985, based on an almost complete skull with artificial restorations. The distinction between these taxa has traditionally relied on characteristics such as the presence of accessory occlusal grooves in the dentary, bifurcation of the anterior occlusal groove, and alveolar spacing patterns. In this study, we reassess the holotype of B. araripensis and compare it to all referred specimens, including those attributed to ‘C. atrox’. Our analysis reveals that the diagnostic differences between the holotypes are either due to preservation biases or based on previous misinterpretations. Furthermore, the referred specimens exhibit a combination of features formerly considered exclusive to each taxon. We thus propose that ‘C. atrox’ is indistinguishable from B. araripensis and should be considered a junior synonym of the latter. A revised hypodigm for B. araripensis now includes four specimens, united by a newly identified feature: a row of paired neurovascular foramina siding with the dentary occlusal groove.
=====
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages