| Maaradactylus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
| Family: | †Anhangueridae |
| Subfamily: | †Anhanguerinae |
| Genus: | †Maaradactylus Bantimet al.,2014 |
| Type species | |
| †Maaradactylus kellneri Bantimet al., 2014 | |
Maaradactylus is agenus ofanhangueridpterodactyloidpterosaur known from theLower Cretaceous period (Aptian toAlbian stages) of theRomualdo Formation of northeasternBrazil.
Maaradactylus isbased on the Museu Paleontologico de Santana do Cariri specimen MPSC R 2357, a skull,atlas, andaxis discovered in 2010 in theAptian—Albian-age Romualdo Formation of Sítio São Gonçalo,Santana do Cariri,Ceará, in the Araripe Basin of Brazil.
Maaradactylus was described by Renan Bantim and colleagues in2014. Thetype species isMaaradactylus kellneri. The generic name refers to Maara, in the legends of theCariri the daughter of a chief, by sorcery changed into a river monster with long teeth, devouring fishermen. The suffix ~dactylus is common in the names of pterosaurs and is derived from Greek δάκτυλος,daktylos, "finger", referring to the long (fourth) wing finger. Thespecific name honorsAlexander Kellner, Brazil's foremost pterosaur expert.[1]
Maaradactylus had one of the largest anhanguerid skulls from theSantana Group, and this indicated a wingspan estimate of about 6 meters (20 ft). Thisanhanguerid also has a relatively tall crest running along the midline of thepremaxillary bones, which make up most of the upper beak region, and placements for 35 pairs of teeth in the upper jaws.[1]
In 2020 a study by Borja Holgado and Rodrigo Pêgas had recoveredMaaradactylus as the sister taxon ofCearadactylus, both belonging to the subfamilyAnhanguerinae. Their cladogram is shown on the right.[2]
