A new ornithocheirid, Barbosania gracilirostris gen. et sp. nov. (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Santana Formation (Cretaceous) of NE Brazil

Abstract

An almost complete, ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Romulado Member of the Santana Formation, NE Brazil is described. The specimen lacks a rostral and dentary median sagittal crest and is sufficiently distinct from other crestless taxa to warrant the erection of a new genus and species, Barbosania gracilirostris gen. et sp. nov. It confirms the absence of a crest as a genuine con- dition rather than a consequence of ontogenetic immaturity and indicates a shift from the previously observed pattern of suture closure in pterodactyloid pterosaurs, where partial fusion of the extensor tendon process has occurred at a relatively small size. Several specimens showing mor- phology similar to Brasileodactylus may instead be more closely allied to B. gracilirostris. Keywords Barbosania  Ornithoc