Vesperopterylus
{{Short description|Genus of anurognathid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Vesperopterylus
| fossil_range = Aptian, {{Fossil range|122.1}}
| image = Paleoart reconstruction of Vesperopterylus.png
| image_caption = Life reconstruction of Vesperopterylus on a tree branch
| taxon = Vesperopterylus
| authority = Lü et al., 2017
| type_species = {{extinct}}Vesperopterylus lamadongensis
| type_species_authority = Lü et al., 2017
}}
Vesperopterylus (meaning "dusk wing") is a genus of anurognathid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of China, the geologically youngest member of its group. Notably, Vesperopterylus appears to have a reversed first toe, which would have been suited for gripping; it was likely arboreal, climbing or clinging to tree branches with curved, sharp claws. It also has a relatively short tail, in contrast with its tailless (Jeholopterus) and long-tailed (Dendrorhynchoides) relatives. It was first described and named by Lü Junchang et al. While the original spelling of the name was Versperopterylus, this was a typo, and was emended by the authors in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.{{cite book | last1 = Lü | first1 = J. | last2 = Meng | first2 = Q. | last3 = Wang | first3 = B. | last4 = Liu | first4 = D. | last5 = Shen | first5 = C. | last6 = Zhang | first6 = Y. | chapter = Short note on a new anurognathid pterosaur with evidence of perching behaviour from Jianchang of Liaoning Province, China | doi = 10.1144/SP455.16 | editor-last1 = Hone | editor-first1 = D.W.E. | editor-last2 = Witton | editor-first2 = M.P. | editor-last3 = Martill | editor-first3 = D.M. | title = New Perspectives on Pterosaur Palaeobiology | series = Geological Society, London, Special Publications | publisher = The Geological Society of London | location = London | volume = 455 | pages = 95–104 | chapter-url = http://sp.lyellcollection.org/content/specpubgsl/early/2017/09/08/SP455.16.full.pdf | date = 2017}}
Classification
In 2021, a phylogenetic analysis conducted by Xuefang Wei and colleagues recovered Vesperopterylus within the subfamily Anurognathinae, a subfamily within the family Anurognathidae. Within the subfamily, Vesperopterylus was recovered in a derived position, sister taxon to Anurognathus.{{Cite journal|last1=Wei |first1=X. |last2=Pêgas |first2=R. V. |last3=Shen |first3=C. |last4=Guo |first4=Y. |last5=Ma |first5=W. |last6=Sun |first6=D. |last7=Zhou |first7=X. |year=2021 |title=Sinomacrops bondei, a new anurognathid pterosaur from the Jurassic of China and comments on the group |journal=PeerJ |volume=9 |pages=e11161 |doi=10.7717/peerj.11161 |doi-access=free|pmc=8019321 }} Below is a cladogram representing their phylogenetic analysis:
{{clade| style=font-size:100%;line-height:100%
|label1=Anurognathidae
|1={{clade
|2={{clade
|label1=Batrachognathinae
|1={{clade
}}
|label2=Anurognathinae
|2={{clade
|1=Dendrorhynchoides curvidentatus
|2={{clade
|2={{clade
|1=Jeholopterus ningchengensis
|2={{clade
|2=Vesperopterylus lamadongensis
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
References
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{{Pterosauria|M.}}
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{{Portal bar|Paleontology|China}}
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Category:Early Cretaceous pterosaurs of Asia