Ludodactylus

Taxobox
name = "Ludodactylus"
status = fossil
fossil_range = Early Cretaceous
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Sauropsida
ordo = Pterosauria
subordo = Pterodactyloidea
familia = Ornithocheiridae
genus = "Ludodactylus"
genus_authority = Frey, Martill, and Buchy, 2003
binomial = "Ludodactylus sibbicki"
binomial_authority = Frey "et al"., 2003

"Ludodactylus" (meaning "play finger", referring to the fact that, like many toy pterosaurs, it combined teeth with a "Pteranodon"-like head crest) was a genus of ornithocheirid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Aptian-age Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of Ceará, Brazil. It is based on SMNK PAL 3828, a skull missing part of the head crest. Unlike other ornithocheirids, it had no premaxillary crest, but did have a crest at the back of the skull. Trapped between the mandibles is a yucca leaf; apparently the animal got it caught in its beak and unsuccessfully tried to dislodge it (the edge of the leaf is frayed), and then possibly died from starvation or a complication of starving. Its size is not known, but the skull would have been more than 66 cm (26 in) long.Frey, E., Martill, D., and Buchy, M. (2003). A new crested ornithocheirid from the Lower Cretaceous of northeastern Brazil and the unusual death of an unusual pterosaur. In: Buffetaut, E., and Mazin, J.-M. (eds.). "Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs". "Geological Society Special Publication" 217:56-63. ISBN 1-86239-143-2.] The species name "sibbicki" is an homage to the paleoartist John Sibbick. [http://www.archosauria.org/pterosauria/taxonomy/genera/ludodactylus.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.pterosaur.co.uk/species/LCP/Ornitho/ludodactylus.htm "Ludodactylus"] in The Pterosaur Database
* [http://archosauria.org/pterosauria/taxonomy/genera/ludodactylus.html "Ludodactylus"] in The Pterosauria