Darwinopterus linglotaensis: Diagnosis: Wukongopterid pterosaur with the following combination of characters that distinguishes it from other members

of this clade (autapomorphies are marked with an asterisk): posterior region of the skull less elongated han in Darwinopterus modularis; dentition formed by short cone-shaped teeth; lacrimal process of the jugal comparatively thin*; foramen on nasal process rounded*; curved second pedal phalanx of the fifth toe with an angle between the proximal and distal segment about 115*. Darwinopterus linglongtaensis was distinguished from Darwinopterus moularis on the basis of less elongated posterior skull, short cone shaped teeth, relatively thin lachrymal process of the jugal and rounded foramen of nasal process In both specimens, holotype of Darwinopterus modularis and D. Linglongtaensis, the posterior skull is badly crushed and specific details of individual bones of the braincase and skull table are impossible to distinguish with any degree of certainty. Whatever differences in shape and elongation between the two taxa can surely be atributed to crushing and flattening of the posterior skull and sliding of the dermal cranial bones . Referred D. Modularis specimen ZMNH
M8802 associated with an egg, has a better preserved posterior skull retainign much of it original shape and sows no elongiation nor the rather squared off shape of the posterior skull of the Darwinopterus holotype specimen.

The teeth of D. Modularis type specimen appear elongate and slender but this effect is enchanced by sliding of the teeth out of their respected alveoli exposing the root of the teeth. The teeth also apper to be broken in the ventral margin of the upper jaw. Tooth shape and sharpness is subject to not only to individual variation but also ontogeny and wear and tear. And in fossil taxa it's also subject to preservation. All of these factors have to be take into account and whatever differences are used to diagnose new taxa must be demonstrated.