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. 2020 Apr 1:8:e8741.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.8741. eCollection 2020.

New anatomical information on Dsungaripterus weii Young, 1964 with focus on the palatal region

He Chen  1   2   3 , Shunxing Jiang  1   2 , Alexander W A Kellner  4 , Xin Cheng  5 , Xinjun Zhang  1   2   3 , Rui Qiu  1   2   3 , Yang Li  1   2   3 , Xiaolin Wang  1   2   3
Affiliations

New anatomical information on Dsungaripterus weii Young, 1964 with focus on the palatal region

He Chen et al. PeerJ. .

Abstract

Pterosaur specimens with complete and well-preserved palatal region are rare. Here we describe new and previously collected specimens of the pterodactyloid pterosaur Dsungaripterus weii that are three-dimensionally preserved and provide new anatomical information for this species. Among the unique features is a lateral process of the pterygoid divided into two parts: an anterior thin, parabolic arc shaped element that separates the secondary subtemporal and the subtemporal fenestrae, followed by a dorsoventrally flattened portion that is directed inside the subtemporal fenestrae. The interpterygoid fenestrae join forming an irregular oval shape with two symmetrical posterior notches and a smooth anterior margin. Among all pterosaurs where the palate is known, the posterior configuration of the palate of D. weii is similar to some azhdarchoids, which is consistent with the suggested phylogenetic position of the Dsungaripteridae as closely related to the Azhdarchoidea. Furthermore, we identify symmetrical grooves on the lateral surface of the upper and lower jaws, that likely represent the impression of the edge of a keratinous sheath that would cover the upturned toothless rostrum during foraging activity, most likely consisting of hard elements, as has been previously assumed. Wear facets on the teeth also support this feeding mode.

Keywords: Dsungaripterus; Early Cretaceous; Palatal region; Pterosaurs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The palate of Dsungaripterus weii (IVPP V 4063) in ventral view.
(A) Photo (Photo credit: Wei Gao) and (B) drawing (Sketch drawing credit: Xiaocong Guo), (C) close-up of the lateral process of the pterygoid (Photo credit: Wei Gao), showing in colour. Scale bars: 100 mm in (A) and (B), 10 mm in (C). Abbreviations: bo, basioccipital; bs, basisphenoid; ch, choana; ec, ectopterygoid; eo, exoccipital; fo, foramen; gr, groove; ipf, interpterygoid fenestra; j, jugal; m, maxilla; oc, occipital condyle; op, opisthotic; pl, palatine; pplf, postpalatine fenestra; ptf, posttemporal fenestra; pty, pterygoid; pm, premaxilla; pr, palatal ridge; q, quadrate; soc, supraoccipital; socr, supraoccipital crest; sq, squamosal; sstf, secondary subtemporal fenestra; stf, subtemporal fenestra; v, vomer; IX–XII, the ninth to twelfth cranial nerves.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Anterior part of skulls in ventral view.
(A) Dsungaripterus weii IVPP V 26256 (Photo credit: Wei Gao); (B) Dsungaripterus weii, drawing of IVPP V 2776, modified from Young (1964); (C) Dsungaripterus weii, IVPP V 4065 (Photo credit: Wei Gao); (D) Caupedactylus ybaka, MN 4726-V modified from Kellner (2013). Scale bars: 100 mm. Abbreviations: fo, foramen; gr, groove; pm, premaxilla; v, vomer.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Anterior part of upper and lower jaws of Dsungaripterus weii.
(A) The skull of IVPP V 4065 in right view (Photo credit: Wei Gao), (B) the skull of IVPP V 26256 in right view (Photo credit: Wei Gao), (C) the skull of IVPP V 4064 in right view (Photo credit: Wei Gao), (D) the skull of IVPP V 4063 in right view (Photo credit: Wei Gao), (E) the skull of MCUGB 05-01-09 in right view, (F) the skull of IVPP V 2776 in right view, modified from Young (1964), (G) the mandible of IVPP V 2776 in left view, modified from Young (1964), (H) the mandible of IVPP V 2776 in ventral view, modified from Young (1964). Scale bars: 100 mm. Abbreviations: fo, foramen; gr, groove.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Details on the skull of Dsungaripterus.
(A) Toothless part of rostrum. The arrows point to the foramina on the surface (Photo credit: Wei Gao). (B) Dorsal view of frontal region. (C) The teeth on the IVPP V 26256. The arrows point to the scratching surface on the teeth. (D) The left side of IVPP V 26560 has five teeth on the bony expansions. (E) The last tooth on the right side of IVPP V 26256 might be a replacement tooth, pointed by the arrow. (F) The dorsal portion of the pterygoid shows a developed fossa. This can be seen on the left side of IVPP V 26259.2. (G) IVPP V 26561, details of the groove and premaxillary sagittal crest. Scale bars: 10 mm in (A), (D), (E) and (F); 20 mm in (B) and (G); 2 mm in (C). Abbreviations: ec, ectopterygoid; fo, foramen; fos, fossa; gr, groove; pmcr, premaxilla crest; pty, pterygoid.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Part of the pterygoid and ectopterygoid.
(A), (B) and (G): right side of Dsungaripterus weii IVPP V 26257 (Photo credit: Wei Gao); (C), (D) and (H): right side of Dsungaripterus weii IVPP V 26259.1 (Photo credit: Wei Gao); (E), (F) and (I): left side of Dsungaripterus weii IVPP V 26258 (Photo credit: Wei Gao); (J) line drawing of partial palate of Dsungaripterus weii on left side, the line of dashes in yellow shows the place where the IVPP V 26258 supposed be; (K) left side of Caupedactylus ybaka MN 4726-V, modified from Kellner (2013). (A), (C), (E), (G), (H), (I), (J) and (K) in dorsal view; (B), (D) and (F) in ventral view. Scale bars: 20 mm. The arrow points anteriorly. Abbreviations: ec, ectopterygoid; pplf, postpalatine fenestra; fo, foramen; pef, pterygoid-ectopterygoid foramen; pty, pterygoid.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Line drawings of the posterior part of the palate in ventral view.
(A) Dsungaripterus weii IVPP V 4063; (B) Tupuxuara leonardii IMCF 1052, modified from Pinheiro & Schultz (2012); (C) Caupedactylus ybaka MN 4726-V, modified from Kellner (2013). Scale bar: 20 mm. The arrow points anteriorly.
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