Cearadactylus

Cearadactylus
Cearadactylus, Leonardi & Borgomanero, 1985

number on the map: 38

Order: Pterosauria

Cearadactylus is an extinct flying reptile that belonged to the Pterosauria order; it was not a dinosaur! It owes its name to the Brazilian state of Ceará, where its remains were found, as well as to wing fingers which are characteristic of pterosaurs. Cearadactylus lived in South America. Currently, the genus Cearadactylus includes one species: Cearadactylus atrox, literally translated as “terrifying fingers from Ceará”. It had a large head of almost 60 cm in length and strong teeth, which suggest a fish diet. The dimensions of this pterosaur were calculated on the basis of the head proportion, in comparison to other members of the Pterosauria order because only the skull of this extinct reptile is known from excavations.

wingspan: 4,5–5 m
body mass: 15 kg
temporal range: ca. 115 mya