Epapatelo

Genus of pteranodontian pterosaur

Epapatelo
Temporal range: Late Cretaceous, Lower (Maastrichtian)
PreꞒ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Holotype humerus
Holotype ulna
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Clade: Aponyctosauria
Genus: Epapatelo
Fernandes et al., 2022
Species:
E. otyikokolo
Binomial name
Epapatelo otyikokolo
Fernandes et al., 2022

Epapatelo (meaning "wing") is a genus of pteranodontian pterosaur from the late Cretaceous Mocuio Formation of Namibe Province, Angola. The genus contains a single species, E. otyikokolo, known from partial left limb bones.[1]

Discovery and naming

Epapatelo paratype (MPUAN-PA661)
Epapatelo is located in Angola
Epapatelo
class=notpageimage|
Epapatelo type locality in Namibe Province, Angola

Since 2005, the Projecto PaleoAngola carried out excavations at Bentiaba. For the first time in history, remains of pterosaurs were found in Angola. The recovered fossils consist of fourteen specimens of at least eleven individuals. Two of these represent the new taxon Epapatelo.[1]

In 2022, the type species Epapatelo otyikokolo was named and described by Alexandra E. Fernandes, Octávio Mateus, Brian Andres, Michael J. Polcyn, Anne S. Schulp, António Olímpio, Gonçalves and Louis L. Jacobs. The scientific name is derived from Nhaneca, the language of the local nomadic population. The generic name, Epapatelo, means "wing", and the specific name, otyikokolo, means "lizard".[1]

The holotype, MGUAN-PA650, was found in a sandstone layer of the Mocuio Formation, a marine deposit dating from the early Maastrichtian, between 71.64 and 71.4 million years old. It consists of a partial left humerus articulated with a left ulna. The paratype, MGUAN-PA661, represents an articulated left ulna and radius. All of these bones are preserved three-dimensionally, without significant compression. They were recovered from a surface area of fifteen hectares. The plesiosaur Cardiocorax was also found in the Mocuio Formation.[1]

Description

Life restoration with the contemporary Cardiocorax

The wingspan of the holotype was estimated at 4.8 m (16 ft). The paratype would have been a larger individual, at 5.6 m (18 ft). Some of the material found at Bentiaba suggests an even larger size. The fourth metacarpal of the holotype was extrapolated at about 46 cm (18 in) in length. Elsewhere in Angola, a partial manual digit IV has been found that is at least 83 cm (33 in).[1]

Classification

In their phylogenetic analyses, Fernandes et al. (2022) recovered Epapatelo as the sister taxon to Simurghia and Alcione. These taxa, along with the Nyctosauridae, comprise the new clade, Aponyctosauria.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Fernandes, Alexandra E.; Mateus, Octávio; Andres, Brian; Polcyn, Michael J.; Schulp, Anne S.; Gonçalves, António Olímpio; Jacobs, Louis L. (2022). "Pterosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Angola". Diversity. 14 (9). 741. doi:10.3390/d14090741. hdl:10362/145845.
  • v
  • t
  • e
Avemetatarsalia
    • see Avemetatarsalia
Pterosauria
    • see below↓
Preondactylia
Caviramidae?
Austriadraconidae
Eudimorphodontoidea
Raeticodactylidae
Eudimorphodontidae
Eudimorphodontinae
Dimorphodontidae
Campylognathoididae
Rhamphorhynchidae
Rhamphorhynchinae
Rhamphorhynchae
Angustinaripterini
Rhamphorhynchini
Digibrevisauria?
Scaphognathidae?
Pterodactylomorpha
    • see below↓
Campylognathoides liasicus

Scaphognathus crassirostris

Dorygnathus banthensis
Darwinoptera
Wukongopteridae
Wukongopterinae
Anurognathidae
Anurognathinae
Batrachognathinae
Pterodactyloidea
Lophocratia
    • see below↓
Jeholopterus ninchengensis Kryptodrakon progenitor
Germanodactylidae
Gallodactylidae
Aurorazhdarchia
Aurorazhdarchidae
Moganopterinae?
Gnathosaurinae
Ctenochasmatinae
Pterodaustrini
Eupterodactyloidea
Ornithocheiroidea
    • see below↓
Pterodactylus antiquus Plataleorhynchus streptorophorodon
Dsungaripteridae
Dsungaripterinae
Thalassodrominae?
Caupedactylia?
Eutapejaria
Sinopterinae
Tapejarinae
Tapejarini
Alanqidae?
Neopterodactyloidea
Chaoyangopteridae
Chaoyangopterinae
Azhdarchiformes
Azhdarchidae
Azhdarchinae
Quetzalcoatlinae
Pteranodontoidea
    • see below↓
Bakonydraco galaczi

Tupandactylus imperator

Quetzalcoatlus
Pteranodontia
Pteranodontidae
Nyctosauromorpha
Aponyctosauria
Nyctosauridae
Lonchodectidae
Lonchodraconidae
Istiodactyliformes
Mimodactylidae
Istiodactylidae
Istiodactylinae
Ornithocheiriformes
Boreopteridae
Ornithocheiridae
Ornithocheirinae
Targaryendraconia?
Cimoliopteridae
Targaryendraconidae
Hamipteridae?
Anhangueridae
Tropeognathinae?
Coloborhynchinae?
Anhanguerinae
Pteranodon longiceps

Nyctosaurus gracilis

Ludodactylus sibbicki
Taxon identifiers
Epapatelo