A taxonomic revision of Noripterus complicidens (Young, 1973) and Asian members of Dsungaripteridae.

Abstract

After being inaccessible for a number of years, the holotype and other specimens of the dsungaripterid pterodactyloid pterosaur Noripterus complicidens (Young, 1973) are again available for study. Numerous taxa assigned to the Dsungaripteridae have been described since the erection of Noripterus, but with limited comparisons to this genus. Based on the information from Young’s original material here we revise the taxonomic identity of N. complicidens and that of other Asian dsungaripterids. We conclude that N. complicidens is likely distinct from the material recovered from Mongolia and this latter material should be placed in a separate genus.