Tropeognathus
Tropeognathus mesembrinus
Tropeognathus (meaning "keel jaw") is a genus of large pterosaurs from the late Early Cretaceous of South America. This genus is considered to be a member of the family Anhangueridae, but several studies have also recovered it within another family called Ornithocheiridae. Both of these families are diverse groups of pterosaurs known for their keel-tipped snouts and large size. With an estimated wingspan around 8.5 m (28 ft), Tropeognathus is regarded as the largest pterosaur found in the Southern Hemisphere, only rivaled by the huge azhdarchids. The type and only species is Tropeognathus mesembrinus. Fossil remains of Tropeognathus have been recovered from the Romualdo Formation, which is a Lagerstätte located in the Santana Group of the Araripe Basin in northeastern Brazil.
- Family
- Anhangueridae
- Order
- Pterosauria
- Period
- Cretaceous (112 Ma)
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Length
- 0.5 m
- Weight
- 13 kg
- Type locality
- Santana Formation, Brazil
- Holotype
- BSP 1987 I 46
- PBDB
- txn:156882