Image: Hatzegopteryx-Witton-and-Naish-2017

Description: Speculative skeletal reconstructions of Hatzegopteryx sp. and Arambourgiania philadelphiae (estimated wingspans ≥10 m—Frey & Martill, 1996; Buffetaut, Grigorescu & Csiki, 2003) to show discrepancy in neck length alongside a ‘typical’ azhdarchid body plan. (A) Hatzegopteryx skeleton in lateral aspect; (B) dorsal view of EME 315 and FGGUB R1083 jaw elements, proportionate to actual size, suggesting Hatzegopteryx bore a wide, as well as relatively short, neck construction (soft-tissue outline in black). Jaw width after Buffetaut, Grigorescu & Csiki (2003); (C) reconstructed Arambourgiania philadelphiae cervicals III–VII in lateral aspect; (D) 4.6 m wingspan Q. sp. skeleton in lateral aspect; (E) Q. sp. cervical vertebrae III–V and skull in dorsal view; Note how the neck length of Hatzegopteryx is similar to this much smaller pterosaur. H. thambema holotype (FGGUB R1083) and undescribed referred elements are shown in (A); known elements of A. philadelphiae (UJA JF1) indicated in white shading in (C). Scale bar represents 1 m.
Title: Hatzegopteryx-Witton-and-Naish-2017
Credit: https://peerj.com/articles/2908/
Author: Mark Witton
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
License: CC BY 4.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Attribution Required?: Yes