Tapejarids

Tupandactylus

    Tupandactylus was a genus of Tapejarid pterosaur that is believed by secular researchers to have lived 112 million years ago in the early Cretaceous period. The name Tupandactylus means "Tupan Finger" which is a reference to the Tupi thunder god. To date there are considered to be two species of Tupandactylus that were both roughly equivalent in size. T. Imperator had the largest crest that included a bony prong that extened backwards from the head that helped support the massive skull sail. T. Navigans had smaller, more vertical crest that lacked the backwards prong. However it is unknown if these are true species or simply sexual dimorphism or if they represent different stages of growth.

    First discovered in 1997 by Campos & Kellner in Brazil, the first fossil remains consisted of a partial skull including a partial lower jaw. Tupandactylus is estimated to have had a 5 meter (16.5 foot) wingspan. It is often assumed that Tupandactylus was a piscovore (fish eater), however it is unknown as to what Tupandactylus' actual diet consisted of. 

    It is believed that like other Tapejarids, Tupandactylus used it's large head crest to aid in flight control and there have been a number of studies both pro and con re: this belief. With so little known about Tupandactylus it is a creature certainly worthy of more study

Tapejara

Thalassodromeus