| Cacibupteryx | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Family: | †Rhamphorhynchidae |
| Subfamily: | †Rhamphorhynchinae |
| Genus: | †Cacibupteryx Gasparini, Fernández, & de la Fuente, 2004 |
| Type species | |
| †Cacibupteryx caribensis Gasparini, Fernández, & de la Fuente, 2004 | |
Cacibupteryx is agenus ofrhamphorhynchidpterosaur from the middle-lateOxfordian-ageUpper JurassicJagua Formation ofPinar del Río,Cuba.
The genus was named in 2004 byZulma Gasparini,Marta Fernández andMarcelo de la Fuente. Thetype species isCacibupteryx caribensis. The genus name is derived fromCacibu, the "Lord of the Sky" inTaíno and Greekpteryx, "wing". Thespecific name refers to the Caribbean,Caribe in Spanish.
The genus is based onholotype IGO-V 208, a partial but well-preserved uncrushed skull — missing the tip of the snout, teeth, and lower jaws — and fragmentary leftwing: the distal end of theulna, fragments of theradius, and the first and fourthphalanx of the wing finger. The partial skull is seventeen centimeters long (6.7 inches), is preserved inthree dimensions, and has a broad roof. Thewingspan and length were not estimated by the describers, but it was indicated to be a relatively large form.[1]
The describers assignedCacibupteryx to theRhamphorhynchidae. Although there is little overlapping material with contemporaneousNesodactylus from the same location, the two are clearly different as proven by details of theelbow andquadrate.Cacibupteryx is one of the most complete Oxfordian pterosaurs, and demonstrates additional Oxfordian pterosaur diversity.[1]Phylogenetic analyses have found it to be a member of the subfamilyRhamphorhynchinae, closely related toRhamphorhynchus andNesodactylus.[2]
