New pterosaur fossils from the Early Cretaceous of Colombia

Abstract

The fossil record of pterosaurs in northwestern Gondwana has been relatively scarce, with only two previous occurrences. This study presents new pterosaur findings from three sites in Colombia, including a new record of an Anhanguera-like specimen and other bones referrable to Anhangueria. The new material includes a distinctive partial lower jaw found in association with parts of a radius and a complete distal syncarpal. The lower jaw has a triangular glenoid fossa in dorsal view, a fossa depressoria with a bean-shaped outline, and a retroarticular process with a straight margin in lateral or medial views. The new fossils extend the record of Anhanguera-like pterosaurs into the earliest part of the Cretaceous and expand our knowledge of the vertebrate fossil record of lower latitudes.