#austriadactylus

Austriadactylus cristatus was an early pterosaur that lived during the Late Triassic, about 215 million years ago, in what is now Austria and Italy.

It's one of the most basal ("primitive") pterosaurs currently known, with its long tail lacking the stiffening bony rods seen in other early "rhamphorhynchoid-grade" forms.

It had a wingspan of around 1.2m (~2'), and a bony crest on its snout that grew taller towards the front. Its jaws contained a mix of two different tooth types – a few long pointed teeth and numerous smaller three-pointed teeth – with wear patterns that suggest its diet primarily consisted of hard-shelled invertebrates.

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References:

Dalla Vecchia, Fabio M., et al. "A crested rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur from the Late Triassic of Austria." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22.1 (2002): 196-199. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524213

Dalla Vecchia, Fabio M. "The first Italian specimen of Austriadactylus cristatus (Diapsida, Pterosauria) from the Norian (Upper Triassic) of the carnic Prealps." Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 115.3 (2009): 291-304. https://doi.org/10.13130/2039-4942/6385

A portrait of Austriadactylus cristatus, an early pterosaur from the Late Triassic of Austria. It was described in 2002 from a crushed partial skeleton with skull. The specimen was discovered in an abandoned mine. Austriadactylus was a relatively small pterosaur, with an estimated wingspan of 120 cm. The elongated, 11-centimeter skull bore a thin bony crest, enlarged at the tip of the snout. The teeth varied in size and shape, typical of early pterosaurs: large, sharp teeth helped grasp prey, while small, tricuspid teeth crushed it. Microwear analysis of the teeth revealed that Austriadactylus fed on hard-shelled invertebrates.

In this portrait, I experimented with a more quick style. In particular, I made the pycnofiber cover without focusing on detailing each individual "hair."

Watercolor and pencil illustration of a juvenile Austriadactylus enthused for the discovery of a damselfly, while ants and a roly poly go on with their business in late triassic Austria.

It's pancake day! 🥞🫐🍓🥞

This Austriadactylus has caught Alfur unaware, and it's now carrying it to its nest. It seems that his luck has run out, but the hunter hasn't noticed that it has now become the hunted, as a Peregrine falcon is swooping in for the kill

How will alfur survive this one?

Archovember Day 28: Austriadactylus cristatus