Rybushka Formation Stratigraphic range: Campanian ~84–71 Ma | |
---|---|
Type | Geological formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Phosphorite |
Location | |
Coordinates | 51°18′N45°00′E / 51.3°N 45.0°E Coordinates: 51°18′N45°00′E / 51.3°N 45.0°E |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 42°36′N40°12′E / 42.6°N 40.2°E |
Region | Penza, Saratov |
Country | |
The Rybushka Formation is a Campanian geologic formation in the Penza and Saratov Oblasts of European Russia. Pterosaur, fish and invertebrate fossils have been recovered from the formation. [1] [2]
The following fossils have been reported from the formation:
Azhdarchidae is a family of pterosaurs known primarily from the late Cretaceous Period, though an isolated vertebra apparently from an azhdarchid is known from the early Cretaceous as well. Azhdarchids included some of the largest-known flying animals of all time, but members no larger than a cat have also been found. Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984) named the azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs Azhdarcho, Quetzalcoatlus, and "Titanopteryx". They were among the last known surviving members of the pterosaurs, and were a rather successful group with a worldwide distribution. By the time of the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, most pterosaur families except for the Azhdarchidae disappear from the fossil record, but recent studies indicate a wealth in pterosaurian faunas, including pteranodontids, nyctosaurids, tapejarids and several indeterminate forms. In several analysis, some taxa such as Navajodactylus, Bakonydraco and Montanazhdarcho were moved from Azhdarchidae to other clades.
Azhdarcho is a genus of pterodactyloid pterosaur from the late Cretaceous Period of the Bissekty Formation of Uzbekistan, as well as the Zhirkindek Formation of Kazakhstan. It is known from fragmentary remains including the distinctive, elongated neck vertebrae that characterizes members of the family Azhdarchidae, a family that includes many giant pterosaurs such as Quetzalcoatlus. The name Azhdarcho comes from the Persian word azhdar (اژدر), a dragon-like creature in Persian mythology. The type species is Azhdarcho lancicollis. The specific epithet lancicollis is derived from the Latin words lancea and collum ("neck").
Arambourgiania is a pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of Jordan, and possibly the United States. Arambourgiania was among the largest of the azhdarchids and one of the largest flying animals ever known.
Montanazhdarcho is a genus of azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of what is now the state of Montana, United States. Montanazhdarcho is known from only one species, M. minor.
Bogolubovia is a genus of pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Rybushka Formation of Petrovsk, Saratov Oblast, Russia. It is named for Nikolai Nikolaevich Bogolubov, the palaeontologist who discovered the remains in 1914. It was in 1991 assigned to the Azhdarchidae. Wellnhofer (1991) however, retained it in the Pteranodontidae. Bogolubov had initially assigned the specimen, consisting of a single partial large cervical vertebra, as a new species of Ornithostoma, O. orientalis. It was later reclassified as a species of Pteranodon, before being assigned its own genus by Lev Nesov and Alexander Yarkov in 1989. The holotype has probably been lost, but other partial remains have been referred to the genus.
Aralazhdarcho is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur from the Santonian-early Campanian Late Cretaceous Bostobe Svita of Kazakhstan.
Cretornis is a pterosaur genus from the late Cretaceous period (Turonian) of the Czech Republic, dating to about 92 million years ago. It contains the single species Cretornis hlavaci.
Volgadraco is a genus of azhdarchid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of European Russia. It is known from lower beak and postcranial fragments from the early Campanian-age Rybushka Formation of Saratov, Russia. The size of this animal, and the development of blood supply in the lower jaw, are intermediate between older Santonian or Turonian azhdarchids like Azhdarcho and Bakonydraco and later Maastrichtian azhdarchids like Quetzalcoatlus. Volgadraco was described in 2008 by Averianov, Arkhangelsky, and Pervushov. The type species is V. bogolubovi, the specific name honouring Russian paleontologist Nikolai Nikolaevich Bogolubov. The authors consider the earlier named genus Bogolubovia to be a nomen dubium that in fact might be identical to Volgadraco.
The Bostobe Formation is a geological formation in Qaraghandy & Qyzylorda, Kazakhastan whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous.
The Marnes d’Auzas Formation is a geological Formation in southwestern France whose strata date back to the Late Maastrichtian. It is about 100 metres thick and consists primarily of marls with some interbeds of sandstones. It corresponds to sediments whose depositional environment evolved from the paralic domain at the base of the formation, towards a more continental domain in its upper part. The Marnes d’Auzas Formation was deposited in the west coast of the former Ibero-Armorican Island, which included much of France and Spain.
The Ialovachsk or Yalovach Formation is a Santonian geologic formation in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Fossil dinosaur eggs have been reported from the formation.
Alanqa is a genus of pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous period of what is now the Kem Kem Beds of southeastern Morocco. The name Alanqa comes from the Arabic word العنقاءal-‘Anqā’, for a mythical bird of Arabian culture.
Navajodactylus is an extinct genus of pterodactyloid pterosaur from Late Cretaceous deposits of the San Juan Basin in New Mexico, United States.
"Ornithocheirus" buenzeli is a pterosaur species known from parts of a humerus and part of a lower jaw found in late Cretaceous period rocks of the Grünbach Formation, Austria. While it has traditionally been classified in the genus Ornithocheirus, it is more likely an azhdarchid, though due to the fragmentary nature of known fossil remains, it is considered a nomen dubium.
The Pudovkino Formation is a Late Cretaceous (Campanian) geologic formation in Saratov Oblast of European Russia. Pterosaur fossils have been recovered from the marine marls of the formation.
Argentinadraco is an extinct genus of azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous Portezuelo Formation of Argentina. It contains a single species, A. barrealensis, named in 2017 by Alexander Kellner and Jorge Calvo. Argentinadraco is unusual for bearing a bottom jaw with a concave bottom edge, as well as a pair of ridges and depressions on the top surface. These features distinguish it from all other azhdarchoid groups, complicating its assignment, but it may belong to the Azhdarchidae. The ridges on the lower jaw may have been used to feed on small invertebrates in loose sediment within the system of lakes and rivers that it resided in.
Mistralazhdarcho is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of France.