Genus
Valid Extinct

Vesperopterylus

Lu et al. 2017

Vesperopterylus is a genus of anurognathid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of China, the geologically youngest member of its group. Notably, Vesperopterylus appears to have a reversed first toe, which would have been suited for gripping; it was likely arboreal, climbing or clinging to tree branches with curved, sharp claws. It also has a relatively short tail, in contrast with its tailless (Jeholopterus) and long-tailed (Dendrorhynchoides) relatives. It was first described and named by Lü Junchang et al. While the original spelling of the name was Versperopterylus, this was a typo, and was emended by the authors in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.

Temporal range
Triassic
Jurassic
Cretaceous
Paleogene
Neogene
252 201 145 66 0 Ma
PBDB occurrences
1
Group
Ptérosaures
Piscivore Volant Marine
Vesperopterylus
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Wikimedia
PBDB Wikipedia
Classification
Pterosauria Order
Macronychoptera Unranked clade
Novialoidea Unranked clade
Lonchognatha Unranked clade
Monofenestrata Unranked clade
Caelidracones Unranked clade
Anurognathidae Family
Vesperopterylus Genus
Fossil sites 1 geolocated sites
Distribution
Top countries
🇨🇳 China
1
Geological formations
Temporal distribution
Aptian (121.4–113.2 Ma)
1
Species (1)
Vesperopterylus lamadongensis 121 Ma
Images 1
Bibliography
Original description
J.-C. Lu, Q.-J. Meng, and B.-P. Wang, DLiu, C.-Z. Shen, Y.-G. Zhang. 2017. Short note on a new anurognathid pterosaur with evidence of perching behaviour from Jianchang of Liaoning Province, China. Geological Society of London Special Publications 455:95-104 DOI ↗
Bibliography (1)
J.-C. Lu, Q.-J. Meng, and B.-P. Wang, DLiu, C.-Z. Shen, Y.-G. Zhang. 2017. Short note on a new anurognathid pterosaur with evidence of perching behaviour from Jianchang of Liaoning Province, China. Geological Society of London Special Publications 455:95-104 DOI ↗