A giant pterosaur in the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Tunisia. (November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martill, David M.; Ibrahim, Nizar; Bouaziz, Samir
• Is Part Of: Journal of African earth sciences. Volume 147(2018)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2018-11
• Subjects: Pterosauria -- Teeth -- Cretaceous -- Albian -- Tunisia -- North Africa; Earth sciences -- Africa -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Geology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Geology -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Geology; Africa; Middle East; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 556.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2018.05.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-343X

Abstract

Abstract: A large, slender, recurved tooth with crenulated ornamentation and arcuate enamel border from the Oum ed Diab Member of the Aïn el Guettar Formation (Early Cretaceous, Albian) of southern Tunisia is assigned to the Ornithocheiroidea (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea). It is most similar to the teeth of Coloborhynchus Owen (1874) and Ludodactylus Frey et al., 2003, both members of the Ornithocheiridae. Although not the first dental record of pterosaurs in Tunisia, the specimen is notable for its size, and with a base of 16 mm diameter and calculated minimum crown height of 78 mm may represent an animal with a wingspan of six metres or more. Highlights: A large tooth is referred to the pterodactyloid pterosaur clade Ornithocheiridae. The tooth indicates giant pterosaurs present in Tunisia in the Early Cretaceous. The wingspan is estimated at 6 m or more.