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King-Edmarka — Dsungaripterus weii

Published: 2013-11-17 00:35:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 1011; Favourites: 29; Downloads: 4
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Description This pterosaur had a wingspan of about 3-3.5 meters (10-11.5 feet). The skull of this animal suggests that it had a diet consisting of shellfish and other hard-bodied animals. It may have strolled along the shore using it's upturned beak to probe and flip its prey up out of its hiding place, and then used it's strong jaws and knobby teeth to crack through the shell and crush it up. As in the case with Tapejarids, the crest of this animal may have been larger than normally depicted. It lived in China during the Early Cretaceous period.
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Comments: 27

acepredator [2014-09-26 03:07:00 +0000 UTC]

Apprentice.y it crushed vertebrates rather than shells because it lived in a forest.

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King-Edmarka In reply to acepredator [2014-09-26 10:45:59 +0000 UTC]

Definitely haven't ruled out that lifestyle for this animal.

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acepredator In reply to King-Edmarka [2014-09-26 19:14:32 +0000 UTC]

Isotope analysis seems to suggest that as the most likely lifestyle.

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ProcrastinatingStill In reply to acepredator [2014-11-01 14:56:39 +0000 UTC]

If it did crush bones then it was most likely a scavenger. The beak would be for probing carcasses. The teeth would be for extracting bone marrow.

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acepredator In reply to ProcrastinatingStill [2014-11-01 16:52:56 +0000 UTC]

I can see that being the case, yes.

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ProcrastinatingStill In reply to acepredator [2014-11-01 23:07:15 +0000 UTC]

Actually Dsungaripterus probably did live near water. Here's what Jaime Headden told me.
"The dsungaripteroids have the lowest values ranging from 13.6 to 15.1‰. Such low values are clearly in accordance with a fresh-water consumption and/or fossilisation."

Note that the apparently ocean-going Pteranodon is given as a plausible marine or terrestrial animal, rather than as a fully marine species, despite its apparent aquatic feeding habits. Conversely, tapejarids are supported by other studies as durophages and may have specialized in inland environments. Problematic with tooth/bone isotope studies is that they reflect not just ingestion rates of isotope bearing foods but also relationship of burial. All of these taxa are buried in aquatic environments, but dsungaripterids in the Tugulu are buried in shallow-water, inland sea environments, with strong association to shallow water ostracods and brachiopods. So while isotope data is speculative (even with spinosaur association with fish being very strong, we remain concerned over isotope data indicating a marine piscivorous diet) we use other data to infer habitus. This is the case with dsungs.

In other words, Isotopes can't be used alone for determining habitats and isotope analysis might be unreliable.

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acepredator In reply to ProcrastinatingStill [2014-11-01 23:08:16 +0000 UTC]

maybe.

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TarbosaurusBatar [2014-02-27 01:46:57 +0000 UTC]

Quite the face you have there sir Pterosaur.

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King-Edmarka In reply to TarbosaurusBatar [2014-02-27 01:49:30 +0000 UTC]

Ha, kinda thought of mandrills when I did this guy...

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TarbosaurusBatar In reply to King-Edmarka [2014-02-27 01:50:31 +0000 UTC]

I can see the resemblance, it's a nice color choice.

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JWArtwork [2013-11-20 21:32:45 +0000 UTC]

Very good work, I like the new look of the Dsungaripterus!

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King-Edmarka In reply to JWArtwork [2013-11-20 23:17:06 +0000 UTC]

Thanks again! I always figured it could have a larger crest!

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JWArtwork In reply to King-Edmarka [2013-11-25 11:57:59 +0000 UTC]

You're most welcome, my friend, and yes, it looks nice. ^^

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PrimevalRaptor [2013-11-17 12:25:30 +0000 UTC]

Nice work on this one, seems accurate and the color scheme is pretty nice. ^^

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King-Edmarka In reply to PrimevalRaptor [2013-11-17 15:31:35 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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PrimevalRaptor In reply to King-Edmarka [2013-11-17 16:15:01 +0000 UTC]

No problem. ^^

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Archipithecus [2013-11-17 07:41:19 +0000 UTC]

I think this is in the running for oddest pterosaur of all time. Great job!

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King-Edmarka In reply to Archipithecus [2013-11-17 15:32:22 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! It certainly was a strange one!

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Giga-fan123 [2013-11-17 01:33:27 +0000 UTC]

Very professional! love the colors!

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King-Edmarka In reply to Giga-fan123 [2013-11-17 01:38:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you, that is quite the compliment!   I think the Mandrill inspired me when it came to the facial colors.

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bhut [2013-11-17 00:54:11 +0000 UTC]

It looks rather cheerful.

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King-Edmarka In reply to bhut [2013-11-17 01:07:20 +0000 UTC]

Somewhat clownish too!

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PencilPavlova [2013-11-17 00:37:27 +0000 UTC]

Your pterosaur group has certainly been successful, I've had about 7 posts this last hour

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King-Edmarka In reply to PencilPavlova [2013-11-17 00:40:30 +0000 UTC]

I know! I can't believe it! I suppose it's because it's the first real pterosaur group in a long time!

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PencilPavlova In reply to King-Edmarka [2013-11-17 00:50:40 +0000 UTC]

How do you start a group?

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King-Edmarka In reply to PencilPavlova [2013-11-17 01:10:12 +0000 UTC]

Here is where you start! makeagroup.deviantart.com/

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PencilPavlova In reply to King-Edmarka [2013-11-17 02:23:21 +0000 UTC]

Ok, thanks heaps

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