Professional Documents
Culture Documents
August 2013
Tapejara wellnhoferi
for the Peirpolis Museum in Uberaba, MG, Brazil
Contents
Dimensions
This replica is 25% larger than the specimen used as a size reference,
IMCF 1061 (Iwaki Museum, Japan), which is a juvenile specimen.
Dimensions of assembled pterosaur in flight position
Width (assembled wingspan): 180 cm
Length (beak to toetip): 100 cm
Height (skull height): 25 cm
Other dimensions
Wingspan (wing bones and carpals stacked in line): 200 cm
Length of body (beak to tail): 70 cm
Length of spine (atlas to tail): 50 cm
XPS densities
Materials used
XPS
5
The mandible is edentulous and preserves a short symphysis only 44 mm in length, formed by the completely
co-ossified contralateral rami. The dorsal face of the
symphysis is transversely concave and is directed anteroventrally at an angle of 18, starting at a point 45 mm
posterior of the rostral tip (Fig. 2; plate 4B). The ventral
margin is almost straight but forms a sagittal crest reaching
its maximum depth at the symphysis. In its dorsal aspect
the bone appears as an elongate triangle, three times as
long as it is wide (Fig. 2; plate 4) while the posterior
section containing the articular facet is missing.
Sources: specimens
Cervical vertebrae
Four procoelous vertebra, identified as elements of the
cervical series, are observed in various states of preservation (Fig. 4). Two of these are attributed to the middle
cervical column (Fig. 4fo) while a third is identified as the
7th cervical. The remaining element represents the isolated
axis (Fig. 4ae).
!
Fig. 4 Cervical elements of Tapejara wellnhoferi, SMNK PAL 1137,
where: AE axis in lateral (A), anterior (B), posterior (C), dorsal
(D) and ventral view (E); FJ cervical vertebra in lateral (F), anterior
(G), posterior (H), dorsal (I) and ventral view (J); KO, cervical
vertebra in lateral (K), anterior (L), posterior (M), dorsal (N) and
ventral view (O); PT, 7th cervical vertebra in lateral (P), anterior
(Q), posterior (R), dorsal (S) and ventral view (T). f foramen, nc
neural canal, ns neural spine, pe postexapophysis, pre preexapophysis, pz postzygapophysis, prz prezygapophysis, vc vertebral condyle
Sources: specimens
3. IMCF 1061 Tapejara wellnhoferi
Used as the main source for the rostrum,
mandible, quadrate, wing phalanges 1 to 3,
humeri, pteroids, occipital bone, neurocranium,
cervical vertebrae (second prototype), dorsal
vertebrae (second prototype).
!
4. MN 6595-V Tapejara wellnhoferi (holotype)
Used for reviewing the skull proportions.
(These images are protected by
copyright and I do not have
authorization to show them in
this presentation)
Sources: specimens
5. SMNK PAL 3986 Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for scaling wing bones against
the mandible.
!
6. MCT-1500-R Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for a first attempt at making the internal cranium and
occipital bone (I later replaced it with data from IMCF 1061).
!
7. SMNK PAL 3985 Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for scaling the size of the
sternum agains the humerus.
!
8. MN 6588-V Tapejaridae.
Used as a source for the pre-pubis.
Sources: specimens
9. IMCF 1502 Tupuxuara leonardii
Used as a source for the fourth wing phalanx and as a guide for the
scapulocoracoid (later replaced with better data from IMCF 1061); this
specimen was also used as an initial guide to the palate.
!
10. NSM-PV 19892 Anhanguera piscator
Used a source for the caudal vertebrae.
!
11. YPM 2546 Pteranodon longiceps
Used as a source for the shape of the sternal ribs, and as a guide to the
general aspect of the sacrum, fingers and toes.
!
12. Undescribed thalassodromid.
Images which were used to make the pelvic girdle in Tupuxuara were used
as a source to for the general aspect of the sacrum.
Scaling
Replica is 25% larger than
reference size of young
individual (data provided
by Brian Andreas)
10
Bone construction
Fully documented at
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/imaginary-pterosaur-7-finished/
11
12
13
2. Neurocranium (1 part)
3. Mandible (1 part)
4. Quadrates (2 parts)
14
Initial work
on the skull
16
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/tapejara-skull-part-3-neurocranium-quadrate-lacrimal/
17
Mandible
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/tapejara-skull-part-2-mandible-and-crest/
18
Mandible: final
19 x 6 x 4.5 cm &10 g
19
Neurocranium version 1
replica of SMNK PAL 1137
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/unfinished-tapejara-skull/
20
Neurocranium version 2
beyond SMNK PAL 1137
Improved with ICMF 1061 sources
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/tapejaras-neurocranium-revisited/
21
Neurocranium: final
15.5 x 7 x 6 cm & 35 g
22
Quadrates
7 x 2.5 cm & < 3 g (both)
23
Skull assembly
24
Cervical vertebrae
Cervical vertebrae
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/tapejara-cervical-vertebrae/
27
Dorsal vertebrae
28
Dorsal vertebrae
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/tapejara-the-notarium-thoracic-vertebrae/
29
Sacrum
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/
Based on Thalassodromid sources (no Tapejara source available)
30
Tail
From Anhanguera piscator (Kellner & Tomida 2000)
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-caudal-vertebrae/
31
Wing (8 parts)
Phalanx 1 (2)
21 cm
6 g (both)
Phalanx 2 (2)
17 cm
4 g (both)
Phalanx 3 (2)
14 cm
3 g (both)
Phalanx 4 (2)
9 cm
2 g (both)
32
Humeri
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/
33
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/
34
Wing metacarpal
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/
35
Wing phalanges
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/
36
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejara-carpals-and-pteroid/
37
Fingers
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/
38
Pelvic bones
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-abdominal-bones/
40
Pelvic girdle
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/
41
42
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/tapejara-shoulders-and-chest/
43
Pectoral girdle
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pectoral-girdle/
44
Femur (2 parts)
12.5 cm
5 g (both)
Tibiotarsus (2 parts)
1 x 7.5 cm
5 g (both)
1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm
1 g (all)
Metatarsals (8 parts)
< 2 g (all)
1.2 cm
< 1 g (both)
Toenails (8 parts)
< 2 g (all)
Legs
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/
46
Feet
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/
47
Tupandactylus imperator
!
!
!
48
Tupuxuara leonardii
Tupuxuara leonardii
!
!
!
!
Used coffee powder stains
49
Protective coating
50
Assembly
51
Flying position
4
1
52
Flying position
Support is made of
aluminum antenna
cylinders 2m x 1m
More than 80% of the
weight is distributed
among points 1, 2 and 5
53
Installation
54
Peirpolis Museum
55
Anhanguera
Tupuxuara
Tupandactylus
Guidraco
Caupedactylus
56
Acknowledgements
This project was commissioned by the Peirpolis Cultural and Scientific Complex, which includes
the museum where this replica is currently in display. I would like to thank professor Vicente
Antunes, the director of the institution, for this opportunity, the staff at the museum, and the
researchers Thiago Marinho and Agustin Martinelli who first contacted me, as well as the
paleoartist Rodolfo Nogueira for introducing me to professor Vicente (who told him about his
wish to have a pterosaur in the museum.)
Although I made all the bones by myself, I had help from many people who kindly provided
me with photographic sources, articles and paleontological advice: Felipe Pinheiro, Hebert
Bruno Campos, and specially Brian Andres who gave me access to many high-resolution
photographs and shared his data and scientific advice that were critical to the accuracy of this
replica.
Installing the pterosaur was a challenging and dangerous task, but paleontologist Agustin
Martinelli bravely climbed and crawled under the thin aluminum ceiling of the museum six
metres above to install the structure which currently suspends the pterosaur in a flying
position.
Finally I must thank the family who hosted me in Uberaba: Alpio, Regis, Ludmila and Lucia
(and their many cats) for their fantastic hospitality, for dedicating time and effort to make my
stay as comfortable as possible, for driving me to Peiropolis and back (40km!) and even letting
me occupy their kitchen table during three days, turning it into a pterosaur assembly lab!
57
Sources: publications
1. Kellner, A. W. A. (1989). A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the
Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil. Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 61, 439446.
2. Eck, K., Elgin, R.A. and Frey, E. (2011). On the osteology of Tapejara wellnhoferi
KELLNER 1989 and the first occurrence of a multiple specimen assemblage from the
Santana Formation, Araripe Basin, NE-Brazil. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology
3. Wellnhofer P, Kellner A. W. A (1991) The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi Kellner (Reptilia,
Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin,
northeastern Brazil. Mitt. Bayer. Staatsslg Palont hist Geol 31: 89106.
4. Elgin R. and Campos H. B. N. (2011). A new specimen of the azhdarchoid pterosaur
Tapejara wellnhoferi. Hist Biol DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2011.613467.
5. Kellner, A.W.A. (1996) . Description of the braincase of two Early Cretaceous pterosaurs
(Pterodactyloidea) from Brazil. American Museum Novitates vol. 3168 , p. 1 34
6. Kellner, A.W. A. (2004). The ankle structure of two pterodactyloid pterosaurs from the
Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Brazil. Bulletin AMNH 285: 25-35.
7. Witton. M. (2013). Pterosaurs. Princeton University Press.
8. Wellnhofer, P. (1991) Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs. Crescent Press.
58
Sources: publications
9. Sayo J. M., Kellner A. W. A. (2006) Novo esqueleto parcial de pterossauro
(Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae) do Membro Crato (Aptiano), Formao Santana, Bacia do
Araripe, nordeste do Brasil. Estudos Geolgicos 16, 1640.
10. Kellner A. W. A. (2004) New information on the Tapejaridae (Pterosauria,
Pterodactyloidea) and discussion of the relationships of this clade. Ameghiniana 41: 521534.
11. Kellner A. W. A. and Tomida Y. (2000). Description of a new species of Anhangueridae
(Pterodactyloidea) with comments on the pterosaur fauna from the Santana Formation
(Aptian-Albian), northeastern Brazil. National Science Museum Monograph 17:1-135
12. O. Kuhn and P. Wellnhofer. (1978). Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie. Teil 19:
Pterosauria
13. Claessens LPAM, OConnor PM, Unwin DM (2009) Respiratory Evolution Facilitated
the Origin of Pterosaur Flight and Aerial Gigantism. PLoS ONE 4(2): e4497. doi:10.1371/
journal.pone.0004497
14. Frey, E. Buchy, M-C., Martill, D. (2003) Middle- and bottom-decker Cretaceous
pterosaurs: unique designs in active flying vertebrates. In Buffetaut, E. & Mazin, J- M,
Evolution and Paleobiology of Pterosaurs. Geological Society, London.
59
helder.darocha@gmail.com.
+55.11.992.910.567
60