New Pterosaur Species Discovered in China Sheds Light on Evolution of Flying Reptiles

New Pterosaur Species Discovered in China

A new species of Wukongopteridae, Darwinopterus camposi sp. nov, has been discovered in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. This discovery enriches the diversity of Wukongopteridae and provides new evidence for studying the phylogeny of this clade.

Wukongopteridae is a transitional group in pterosaur evolution, combining features of both non-pterodactyloids and pterodactyloids. Darwinopterus camposi sp. nov. exhibits unique features, including a straight dorsal margin of the premaxillary crest and a shorter fourth phalanx of the wing finger.

The fossil skeleton provides insights into the ontogeny of Wukongopteridae, suggesting that some skull bones only fused at later stages of individual development.

China has been a hotspot for pterosaur research, with numerous discoveries contributing to the understanding of these extinct flying reptiles. The Jehol Biota and Yanliao Biota have yielded a wealth of pterosaur fossils, while the Hami Pterosaur Fauna represents the largest and most densely concentrated pterosaur distribution area known to date.