Lower Cretaceous Period

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Haopterus gracilis

Pterodactyl with a long, crestless skull and pointed teeth.  The long metacarpals are characteristically pterodactyl. Skull length - 145 mm, estimated wingspan - 1.35 metres. This fossil from the Jehol Biota , extends the range and distribution of the pterodactyls.

Holotype:  Nearly complete skeleton - IVPP.V11726, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoathropology, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100044, China.
Date:  135 Ma.  (latest isotope dating is 124.6 Ma)

Wang X. and Lu J., 2001, Discovery of a pterodactloid pterosaur from the Yixian Formation of western Liaoning, China.  Chinese Science Bulletin vol. 45 (12) pp. 447-454. (Haopterus gracilis).