Oldest pterosaur remains from Australia: evidence from the Lower Cretaceous (lower Albian) Eumeralla Formation of Victoria

ABSTRACT

Herein, we describe the first pterosaur material from the Lower Cretaceous of Victoria and the geologically oldest pterosaur material from Australia. The isolated material comprises a partial synsacrum and a left metacarpal IV from the lower Albian portion of the Eumeralla Formation at Dinosaur Cove, Cape Otway, Victoria. The vestiges of a supraneural plate in the synsacrum precludes assignment to the Azhdarchidae. Moreover, presence of a supraneural plate indicates that the synsacrum likely belongs to individual late in ontogeny, perhaps attaining osteological maturity. The synsacrum does not preserve any diagnostic features, and is regarded here as an indeterminate member of either the Archaeopterodactyloidea or Pteranodontia. Similarly, the metacarpal IV cannot be identified more precisely than Pterosauria indet. Positive identification of the fourth metacarpal is supported by the presence of a ginglymoid distal articular surface and proximodistal length. The metacarpal IV is distinct from others previously reported from Australia, in that it is substantially smaller; it is therefore interpreted to derive from a juvenile specimen. Despite the isolated nature of these remains, they extend the temporal and geographic range of pterosaurs in Australia, and in tandem with remains described elsewhere, indicate that the Pterosauria prevailed and potentially reproduced at high latitudes.

KEYWORDS:

• Pterosauria
• Pterodactyloidea
• Gondwana
• Australia
• Cretaceous

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank: all those involved with Dinosaur Dreaming, particularly those involved with excavations at Dinosaur Cove; Sue Hadden, Elizabeth Dalgleish-Wright, Brian Martin of Parks Victoria and the local Rangers for their advice regarding the issue of research permits and allowing access to the Dinosaur Cove site and other field areas, L. Kool and the late D. Pickering for preparing the specimens; T. Ziegler (Melbourne Museum) for facilitating access to specimens in his care; T. Sloan (Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History) for facilitating access to the Artec Space Spider handheld laser scanner; P. Swinkels for preparing the cast of NMV P185973; Monash University and Swinburne University of Technology where this research was undertaken as part of A.H.P’s PhD project in 2022. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous reviewers, and editor Gareth Dyke for their insightful and constructive comments that greatly improved the manuscript. A.H.P. thanks the Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend for funding and support. A.H.P, S.F.P. and S.L.R. would like to thank the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History and Denise O’Boyle for the purchase of the Artec Space Spider handheld laser scanner, which was used to scan NMV P185973. P.V.R. would like to thank the National Geographic Society, the Australian Research Committee and private donors for grants funding which over the years has facilitated the discovery of numerous specimens; D. Turnbull and the Bunurong People, R. Collopy of the Eastern Maar; Murrundindi of the Wurundjeri People for welcoming us onto their Lands and ongoing assistance; the Evans and Denny families; Atlas Copco for equipment; Otway Lighthouse and Bimbi Park for accommodation and to the RACV Inverloch Resort and the Inverloch Information Centre for hosting exhibitions that they fully support. Finally, PrimeSCI! Based at Swinburne University, Wantirna makes sure that information about these new discoveries in palaeontology in Australia along with the Australian Age of Dinosaurs (AAOD) transmits these exiting finds to the general public and especially children.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Government [Research Training Program Stipend].