Ctenochasma elegans AMNH 5147

Ctenochasma elegans AMNH 5147 (Wagner 1852) Late Jurassic ~160 mya, skull length ~4 cm was originally considered a species of Pterodactylus, but current work nests this specimen at the base of Gnathosaurus, and Ctenochasma. It is sufficiently smaller and distinct in morphology to merit a genus. separate from Ctenochasma. Derived from a sister to No. 40 and the HT specimen of Ctenochasma elegans, AMNH 5147 phylogenetically preceded Gnathosaurus and Ctenochasma elegans no. 45 and Ctenochasma gracile no. 65.

Distinct from No. 40, the skull of AMNH 5147 was lower and narrower at the rostrum, as in C. elegans. The occiput was more steeply slanted. The orbit was smaller. In palatal view the skull was narrower anteriorly and wider posteriorly. The teeth were more slender and concentrated anteriorly.

The sacral series was shorter.

The humerus was more gracile with a smaller deltopectoral crest. The metacarpus was longer.

The pelvis was smaller, especially the pubis. Metatarsals I-III were subequal. The pedal digits were more symmetrical with much smaller unguals. The central phalanges were discs. Digit V was reduced to a vestige.

See more ctenochasmatids here. The dorygnathid tree is here. The pterosaur family tree is here.

Pterodactylus elegans holotype and neotype along with AMNH 5147 in situ

Here is AMNH 5147 in situ along with drawings of the holotype of Pterodactylus (Ctenochasma) elegans (Wagner 1861, now lost due to Allied bombing) and another specimen Nr. 1875 XIV 501 designated by Wellnhofer (1970) as the neotype. Both drawings from Zittel (1882). These specimens are all virtually identical and so should be considered conspecific under the name Ctenochasma elegans. They are distinct from the larger, more derived specimens of Ctenochasma gracile.

Bennett SC 1996. Year-classes of pterosaurs from the Solnhofen Limestone of Germany: Taxonomic and Systematic Implications. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 16(3):432-444.

Meyer von CEH 1834. Beiträge zur Petrefactenkunde. [Gnathosaurus subulatus, ein Saurus aus dem lithographischen Schiefer von Solnhofen.] - Museum Senckenbergianum1(3): 1–26 & pls 1–2. [pp. 1–7 & pl. 1]. omic and Systematic Implications. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 16(3):432-444.

Wagner JA 1861. Charakteristik einer neuen Flugeidechse, Pterodactylus elegans. Sber. k. bayer. Akad. Wiss. math.-phys. Kl. pp. 363–365.

Wellnhofer P 1970. Die Pterodactyloidea (Pterosauria) der Oberjura-Plattenkalke Süddeutschlands. Abhandlungen der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, N.F., Munich 141: 1-133.

Wellnhofer P 1978. Handbuch der Paläoherpetologie. Teil 19. Pterosauria. Stuttgart: Verlag Gustav Fischer.

von Zittel KA 1882. Über Flugsaurier aus dem lithographischen Schiefer Bayerns. Paläontographica 29, 47–80 & pls 10–13.

wiki/Gnathosaurus

Dorygnathia

Dorygnathus, Donau

Dorygnathus SMNS 51827

Dorygnathus SMNS 50164