A review of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Gondwanan pterosaur record

Haliskia peterseni, a new anhanguerian pterosaur from the late Early Cretaceous of Australia

“…The maximum width of the mandibular symphysis is 36 mm. This is transversely wider than Aussiedraco molnari , QM F44423 and the holotype of Thapunngaka shawi (KK F494); however, the latter is severely crushed 8 (Fig. 9 ).…”

“…Nevertheless, the mandibular crest was clearly short dorsoventrally and blade-like. This distinguishes Haliskia peterseni from Aussiedraco molnari and QM F44423 which lack mandibular crests 8 , as well as the holotype specimen of Thapunngaka shawi 23 which posseses a dorsoventrally tall crest (Fig. 9 ).…”

“…Haliskia can be distinguished from KK F600, based on the alveolar configuration, wherein the first four alveoli are spaced close together in the latter. Although KK F600 was referred to T. shawi by Richards, et al 26 , we question this referral based on the lack of anatomical overlap between the holotype and referred specimen, the presence of at least three pterosaur taxa in the Toolebuc Formation and the taxonomic diversity of anhanguerians in other localities, such as the Araripe Basin 8 .

Figure 6 Australian pterosaur cranial material.

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“…The vertebrate assemblage of the Toolebuc Formation is diverse and abundant, comprising plesiosaurs (including pliosaurids, elasmosaurids and polycotylids), the ichthyosaur Platypterygius australis McCoy 1867 40 , protostegid sea turtles, several chondrichthyan and actinopterygian fishes, as well as remains from volant enantiornithine birds, pterosaurs and rare terrestrial non-avian dinosaurs (Fig. 2 ) 8 , 25 .…”

“…Fossils of pterosaurs are rare in eastern Gondwana, in stark contrast to their relative abundance and diversity in western Gondwana 1 – 6 . Consequently, understanding the evolutionary history of pterosaurs in eastern Gondwana remains a challenge: resolving the phylogenetic affinities of several pterodactyloid clades has been impeded by the dearth of material from Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, Indo-Pakistan, and Madagascar 7 , 8 . Almost all specimens reported from eastern Gondwana consist of isolated and fragmentary remains, with the exception of ‘ Campylognathoides indicus ’ 9 , 10 and Ferrodraco lentoni 11 , 12 .…”