Cratonopterus (meaning "craton wing") is an extinct genus of ctenochasmatidpterosaurs from the Early CretaceousHuajiying Formation of China. The genus contains a single species, C. huabei, known from a partial skeleton. Cratonopterus represents the first named pterosaur from the Huajiying Formation.[1]
In 2023, Jiang et al. describedCratonopterus huabei as a new genus and species of ctenochasmatid pterosaur based on these fossil remains. The generic name, "Cratonopterus", combines a reference to cratons, derived from the Greek word "kratos", after the geological feature where the specimen was found in, with the Greek "pterus", meaning "wing". The specific name "huabei" means "north China" in Chinese pinyin, in reference to the North China Craton.[1]
Description
Cratonopterus is a medium-sized ctenochasmatid, with an estimated wingspan of around 1.8 metres (5.9 ft). The holotype individual was likely an actively growing subadult when it died, close to being fully grown. The first wing phalanx exhibits a large pneumaticforamen. Although this feature is also seen in members of the Ornithocheiroidea, Jiang et al. interpret it as an autapomorphy, or unique feature, of Cratonopterus within the Ctenochasmatidae. The coracoid bone of the shoulder does not have an expansion where it touches the scapula. This feature is also unique, as an expansion is present in other ctenochasmatids.[1]
Classification
Due to the elongated wing metatarsal of the specimen, Jiang et al. suggested that Cratonopterus can clearly be classified as a pterodactyloid. It can further be assigned to the Ctenochasmatidae as the proportions of the postcranial remains are most similar to members of this clade such as Forfexopterus, Elanodactylus, and Eosipterus.[1]
^Zhou, Chang-Fu; Zhu, Ziheng; Chen, Jianye (2022-05-22). "First pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Huajiying Formation of the Jehol Biota, northern Hebei Province, China: insights on the pedal diversity of Pterodactyloidea". Historical Biology. 35 (7): 1129–1135. doi:10.1080/08912963.2022.2079085. ISSN0891-2963.