Cacibupteryx
Encyclopedia
Cacibupteryx is a genus
of rhamphorhynchid "rhamphorhynchoid" pterosaur
from the middle-late Oxfordian
-age Upper Jurassic Jagua Formation
of Pinar del Río
, Cuba
.
The genus was named in 2004 by Zulma Gasparini, Marta Fernández and Marcelo de la Fuente. The type species
is Cacibupteryx caribensis. The genus name is derived from Cacibu, the "Lord of the Sky" in Taíno
and Greek pteryx, "wing". The specific name refers to the Caribbean, Caribe in Spanish.
The genus is based on holotype
IGO-V 208, a partial but well-preserved uncrushed skull — missing the tip of the snout, teeth, and lower jaws — and fragmentary left wing
: the distal end of the ulna
, fragments of the radius
, and the first and fourth phalanx
of the wing finger. The partial skull is seventeen centimeters long (6.7 inches), is preserved in three dimensions
, and has a broad roof. The wingspan
and length were not estimated by the describers, but it was indicated to be a relatively large form.
The describers assigned Cacibupteryx to the Rhamphorhynchidae
. Although there is little overlapping material with contemporaneous Nesodactylus
from the same location, the two are clearly different as proven by details of the elbow and quadrate
. Cacibupteryx is one of the most complete Oxfordian pterosaurs, and demonstrates additional Oxfordian pterosaur diversity. Recent reviews have supported its assignment as a "rhamphorhynchoid" (i.e. basal pterosaur), with David Unwin suggesting it was a member of the Scaphognathinae, a rhamphorhynchid subfamily featuring more robust jaws.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of rhamphorhynchid "rhamphorhynchoid" pterosaur
Pterosaur
Pterosaurs were flying reptiles of the clade or order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous Period . Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight...
from the middle-late Oxfordian
Oxfordian stage
The Oxfordian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the earliest age of the Late Jurassic epoch, or the lowest stage of the Upper Jurassic series. It spans the time between 161.2 ± 4 Ma and 155.7 ± 4 Ma...
-age Upper Jurassic Jagua Formation
Jagua Formation
The Jagua Formation is a Late Jurassic geologic formation in Pinar del Rio Province, western Cuba. Plesiosaur, pliosaur, pterosaur, metriorhynchid, and turtle remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from its strata....
of Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
The genus was named in 2004 by Zulma Gasparini, Marta Fernández and Marcelo de la Fuente. The type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is Cacibupteryx caribensis. The genus name is derived from Cacibu, the "Lord of the Sky" in Taíno
Taíno language
Taíno, an Arawakan language, was the principal language of the Caribbean islands at the time of the Spanish Conquest, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys, and the Lesser Antilles...
and Greek pteryx, "wing". The specific name refers to the Caribbean, Caribe in Spanish.
The genus is based on holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
IGO-V 208, a partial but well-preserved uncrushed skull — missing the tip of the snout, teeth, and lower jaws — and fragmentary left wing
Wing
A wing is an appendage with a surface that produces lift for flight or propulsion through the atmosphere, or through another gaseous or liquid fluid...
: the distal end of the ulna
Ulna
The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form and runs parallel to the radius, which is shorter and smaller. In anatomical position The ulna is one of the two long bones in the forearm, the other being the radius. It is prismatic in form...
, fragments of the radius
Radius
In classical geometry, a radius of a circle or sphere is any line segment from its center to its perimeter. By extension, the radius of a circle or sphere is the length of any such segment, which is half the diameter. If the object does not have an obvious center, the term may refer to its...
, and the first and fourth phalanx
Phalanx bones
In anatomy, phalanx bones are those that form the fingers and toes. In primates such as humans and monkeys, the thumb and big toe have two phalanges, while the other fingers and toes consist of three. Phalanges are classified as long bones.The phalanges do not have individual names...
of the wing finger. The partial skull is seventeen centimeters long (6.7 inches), is preserved in three dimensions
Three-dimensional space
Three-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
, and has a broad roof. The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
and length were not estimated by the describers, but it was indicated to be a relatively large form.
The describers assigned Cacibupteryx to the Rhamphorhynchidae
Rhamphorhynchidae
Rhamphorhynchidae is a group of early "rhamphorhynchoid" pterosaurs named after Rhamphorhynchus, that lived in the Late Jurassic. The family Rhamphorhynchidae was named in 1870 by Harry Govier Seeley.-Classification:...
. Although there is little overlapping material with contemporaneous Nesodactylus
Nesodactylus
Nesodactylus was a genus of "rhamphorhynchoid" pterosaur from the Oxfordian-age Upper Jurassic Jagua Formation of Pinar del Río, western Cuba....
from the same location, the two are clearly different as proven by details of the elbow and quadrate
Quadrate bone
The quadrate bone is part of a skull in most tetrapods, including amphibians, sauropsids , and early synapsids. In these animals it connects to the quadratojugal and squamosal in the skull, and forms part of the jaw joint .- Evolutionary variation :In snakes, the quadrate bone has become elongated...
. Cacibupteryx is one of the most complete Oxfordian pterosaurs, and demonstrates additional Oxfordian pterosaur diversity. Recent reviews have supported its assignment as a "rhamphorhynchoid" (i.e. basal pterosaur), with David Unwin suggesting it was a member of the Scaphognathinae, a rhamphorhynchid subfamily featuring more robust jaws.
External links
- Cacibupteryx in The Pterosauria