Volgadraco
Volgadraco ("Volga River dragon") is a genus of azhdarchid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of European Russia. It is known from lower beak (holotype SGU, no. 46/104a) and postcranial fragments from the early Campanian-age Rybushka Formation of Saratov, Russia. The size of this animal, and the development of blood supply in the lower jaw, are intermediate between older Santonian or Turonian azhdarchids like Azhdarcho and Bakonydraco and later Maastrichtian azhdarchids like Quetzalcoatlus. Volgadraco was described in 2008 by Averianov, Arkhangelsky, and Pervushov. The type species is V. bogolubovi, the specific name honouring Russian paleontologist Nikolai Nikolaevich Bogolubov. The authors consider the earlier named genus Bogolubovia to be a nomen dubium that in fact might be identical to Volgadraco.[1]
| Volgadraco | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Speculative reconstruction of Volgadraco in an open field, with flies landing on it. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
| Family: | †Azhdarchidae |
| Genus: | †Volgadraco Averianov et al., 2008[1] |
| Species: | †V. bogolubovi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Volgadraco bogolubovi Averianov et al., 2008[1] | |
See also
- Timeline of pterosaur research
- List of pterosaurs
References
- Averianov, A.O.; Arkhangelsky, M.S.; Pervushov, E.M. (October 2008). "A New Late Cretaceous Azhdarchid (Pterosauria, Azhdarchidae) from the Volga Region". Paleontological Journal. 42 (6): 634–642. doi:10.1134/S0031030108060099.
