Tapejara

Tapejara is a toothless crested pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. There were originally 3 species assigned to the genus, but today, only one species is recognized, T. wellnhoferi. The species T. imperator was transferred to the genus Tupandactylus, while the species T. navigans is waiting to receive a new generic name.

I

Name

Tapejara wellnhoferi

Authority

Kellner, 1989

Meaning of generic name

"Ancient being" — A name in Tupi Indian mythology

Size

Skull length: 250 mm, Wingspan: 1.5 m

Remains

Several partial skeletons.

Age and Distribution

Romualdo Member, Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian-Albian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea Tapejaridae

Further Reading

Kellner A. W. A. 1989, A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil, Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 61:439-446.

Wellnhofer, P. & Kellner, A. W. A. 1991, The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi Kellner (Reptilia: Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin, Northeastern Brazil. Mitt. bayer. Staatsslg Paläont. hist. Geol.31, 89–106.

II

Name

"Tapejara" navigans

Authority

Frey, Martill & Buchy, 2003

Size

Skull length: 240 mm, Wingspan: ?1.5 m

Remains

Complete skull.

Age and Distribution

Nova Olinda Member, Crato Formation (Early Cretaceous, Aptian) Ceará, Brazil.

Classification

Pterosauria Pterodactyloidea Azhdarchoidea

Further Reading

Frey, E., Martill, D., M., and Buchy, C. C., 2003, A new species of tapejarid pterosaur with soft tissue head crest: In: Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs, edited by Buffetaut, E., and Mazin, J.-M., Geological Society Special Publication, n. 217, p. 65-72.

Synonyms

Ingridia navigans (Frey, Martill & Buchy, 2003) Unwin and Martill, 2007

Images by Nobu Tamura (click to enlarge):

Tapejara wellnhoferi:

"Tapejara" navigans/Tupandactylus navigans:

Confer also

Tupandactylus imperator