[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index][Subject Index][Author Index]
review of Andres and Ji 2006, Istiodactylus
In A New Species of Istiodactylus (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea)
from the Lower Creteaceous of Liaoning, China (Andres and Ji 2006)
(JVP 26: 70-78) the authors describe an new istiodactylid and erect a
new species.
It joins Nurhachius, Istiodactylus and (overlooked by the authors)
SMNS 1136 PAL as the fourth istiodactylid taxon. The specimen is
compressed, somewhat articulated (the wings) and somewhat complete,
however the various parts are folded upon themselves. No attempt was
made by the authors to reconstruct the skull or other parts.
The authors refer to the lacrimals as the 'nasolacrimals' while
overlooking the real nasals on either side of and laminated to the
ascending process of the premaxilla. They also could not determine
the line separating the premaxilla and maxilla, and thus could not
determine the premaxillary tooth count. The line is visible. The
tooth count is four in total (standard) but here three erupt
ventrally per ramus with the first set tiny, elevated far above the
jaw line and lost in the crack that splits the premaxilla into upper
and lower portions. The authors describe an ectopterygoid, but this
is a misnomer. The ectopterygoid and palatine fuse early in
(Triassic) pterosaur phylogeny forming an ectopalatine. The broad
palate bones often (but not in this study) referred to as the
'palatines' are medially directed plates of the maxilla. No attempt
was made to show the portion of the jugal that laminates against the
maxilla ventral to the antorbital fenestra. No effort was made to
dilineate the post orbital skull elements. Rather a linear silhouette
of the bony areas was provided. The elements are all present and
traceable.
Some skull bones are not fused to one another, suggesting, the
authors report, that this specimen is subadult, following the
paradigm set by Bennett (1993). However, other istiodactylids also
exhibit such patterns. Either all should be considered less than
adult or this might be considered a phylogenetic, rather than
ontogenetic, pattern, as the authors suggest at the close of their
paper. Bennett's list clearly does not refer to all pterosaurs equally.
As mentioned earlier, a crack separates the premaxillary ascending
process + nasals from the lower rostrum. Cracks typically form at
zones of weakness. Two nares per ramus can be seen in the Isle of
Wight specimen. In the Chinese specimen, a broken portion of the
nasal shows embayment for same. A reconstruction would tell the tale
here.
The authors say the deltopectoral crest has a warped shape, but that
could be argued. Crushing seems to have taken out the warp. It
certainly is no match for the corkscrew warp of the Isle of Wight
specimen, which was not nearly so compressed during taphonomy.
Nice to see those big non-wing fingers show up.
Otherwise a good description, but one that could have been improved.
1. We need more data on the pedal elements of this clade.
2. We need more precision on the skull elements.
3. We need more comparative reconstructions. They do help.
4. Not sure why (seemingly) every pterosaur known makes mention in
the discussion portion. Overkill.
David Peters
StL