Vesperopterylus

Vesperopterylus Temporal range: Aptian, 122.1  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life reconstruction of Vesperopterylus on a tree branch
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	† Pterosauria
Family:	† Anurognathidae
Subfamily:	† Anurognathinae
Genus:	† Vesperopterylus Lü et al., 2017
Type species
†Vesperopterylus lamadongensis Lü et al., 2017

Vesperopterylus (meaning "dusk wing") 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. ^[1]

Classification

Variation in anurognathid jaw shape, notice Vesperopterylus (D)

In 2021, a phylogenetic analysis conducted by Xuefang Wei and colleagues recovered Vesperopterylus within the subfamily Anurognathinae, a subfamily within the family Anurognathidae. Within the subfamily, Vesperopterylus was recovered in a derived position, sister taxon to Anurognathus . ^[2] Below is a cladogram representing their phylogenetic analysis:

Anurognathidae	"Dimorphodon" weintraubi Batrachognathinae Sinomacrops bondei Batrachognathus volans Anurognathinae Dendrorhynchoides curvidentatus Luopterus mutoudengensis Jeholopterus ningchengensis Anurognathus ammoni Vesperopterylus lamadongensis

References

1. Lü, J.; Meng, Q.; Wang, B.; Liu, D.; Shen, C.; Zhang, Y. (2017). "Short note on a new anurognathid pterosaur with evidence of perching behaviour from Jianchang of Liaoning Province, China" (PDF). In Hone, D.W.E.; Witton, M.P.; Martill, D.M. (eds.). New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology. Geological Society, London, Special Publications. Vol. 455. London: The Geological Society of London. pp. 95–104. doi:10.1144/SP455.16.
2. Wei, X.; Pêgas, R. V.; Shen, C.; Guo, Y.; Ma, W.; Sun, D.; Zhou, X. (2021). "Sinomacrops bondei, a new anurognathid pterosaur from the Jurassic of China and comments on the group". PeerJ. 9: e11161. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11161 . PMC   8019321 .