Pterodactyloid pterosaur bones from Cretaceous deposits of the Antarctic Peninsula

Fossil vertebrates from Antarctica are considerably rare, hampering our understanding of the evolutionary history of the biota from that continent. For several austral summers, the PALEOANTAR project has been carrying out fieldwork in the Antarctic Peninsula in search for fossils, particularly Cretaceous vertebrates. Among the specimens recovered so far are two bones referable to Pterosauria, more specifically to the Pterodacyloidea, the first volant reptiles from Antarctica to be fully described. MN 7800-V (part and counterpart) was recovered from a moraine at the Abernathy Flats (Santa Marta Formation, Lachman Crags Member, Santonian-Campanian) on James Ross Island. It is interpreted as the distal articulation of a first phalanx of the wing finger, representing an animal with an estimated wingspan between 3 and 4 m. The second specimen (MN 7801-V) comes from Vega Island (Snow Hill Island Formation, Maastrichtian) and is identified as a wing metacarpal IV of an animal with an estimated wingspan from 4 to 5 m. These occurrences show that pterodactyloids inhabited the Antarctic Peninsula at least during the Upper Cretaceous and demonstrate that large pterosaurs were widespread through all parts of the planet during that period.

Key words
Antarctica; Antarctic Peninsula; Pterosauria; PALEOANTAR; Cretaceous

Authorship

ALEXANDER W.A. KELLNER

Laboratório de Paleontologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brazil Universidade Federal do Espírito SantoBrazilVitória, ES, BrazilLaboratório de Paleontologia, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Centro de Ciências Humanas e Naturais, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Avenida Fernando Ferrari, 514, 29075-910 Vitória, ES, Brazil

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7174-9447

TAISSA RODRIGUES

FABIANA R. COSTA

Laboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados e Comportamento Animal/LAPC, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas/CCNH, Universidade Federal do ABC, Rua São Paulo, s/n, Jardim Antares, 09606-045 São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil Universidade Federal do ABCBrazilSão Bernardo do Campo, SP, BrazilLaboratório de Paleontologia de Vertebrados e Comportamento Animal/LAPC, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas/CCNH, Universidade Federal do ABC, Rua São Paulo, s/n, Jardim Antares, 09606-045 São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil

LUIZ C. WEINSCHÜTZ

CENPALEO - Centro Paleontológico da Universidade do Contestado, Universidade do Contestado, 89306-076 Mafra, SC, Brazil Universidade do ContestadoBrazilMafra, SC, BrazilCENPALEO - Centro Paleontológico da Universidade do Contestado, Universidade do Contestado, 89306-076 Mafra, SC, Brazil

RODRIGO G. FIGUEIREDO

Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s/n, Guararema, 29500-000 Alegre, ES, Brazil Universidade Federal do Espírito SantoBrazilAlegre, ES, BrazilDepartamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Alto Universitário, s/n, Guararema, 29500-000 Alegre, ES, Brazil

GEOVANE A. DE SOUZA

Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroBrazilRio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Departamento de Geologia e Paleontologia, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, 20940-040 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

ARTHUR S. BRUM

LÚCIA H.S. ELEUTÉRIO

Laboratório de Paleobiologia e Microestruturas, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua do Alto Reservatório, s/n, Bela Vista, 55608-680 Vitória do Santo Antão, PE, Brazil Universidade Federal de PernambucoBrazilVitória do Santo Antão, PE, BrazilLaboratório de Paleobiologia e Microestruturas, Centro Acadêmico de Vitória, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Rua do Alto Reservatório, s/n, Bela Vista, 55608-680 Vitória do Santo Antão, PE, Brazil

Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/UFPE, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Av. da Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50740-550 Recife, PE, Brazil Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/UFPEBrazilRecife, PE, BrazilPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/UFPE, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Av. da Arquitetura, s/n, Cidade Universitária, 50740-550 Recife, PE, Brazil

CARSTEN W. MUELLER

Technical University of Munich, Chair of Soil Science, Emil-Ramann-Strasse 2, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany Technical University of MunichGermanyFreising-Weihenstephan, GermanyTechnical University of Munich, Chair of Soil Science, Emil-Ramann-Strasse 2, 85354, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany

JULIANA M. SAYÃO

Correspondence to: Alexander Wilhelm Armin Kellner E-mail: kellner@mn.ufrj.br ORCid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7174-9447

* Contribution to the centenary of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

AWAK, TR, LCW and JMS conceived and designed the study; AWAK, TR, FRC, LCW, RGF, GAS, ASB, CWM and JMS performed fieldwork in the Antarctic Peninsula collecting several fossil vertebrates that are housed in the Museu Nacional/UFRJ; LCW conducted the geological study; LHSE and JMS did the osteohistological analysis. All authors reviewed and contributed to the manuscript.

SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Figures

Figures (8)

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Figure 1
Map showing the (a) location of the Antarctic Peninsula and (b) detail of the James Ross and Vega islands.where fieldwork was carried out. (c) Geologic map of the prospected area showing where the pterosaur material was collected: ▲ MN 7800-V from James Ross Island and

MN 7801-V from Veja Island.

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Figure 2
Stratigraphic chart of the James Ross sub-basin, showing the units where specimens were recovered - ▲ MN 7800-V from James Ross Island and

MN 7801-V from the Vega Island. Modified from Olivero et al. (1986)OLIVERO EB, SCASSO RA and RINALDI CA. 1986. Revision of the Marambio Group, James Ross Island, Antarctica. Contrib Cient Inst Antart Argent 331: 1-28. and Marenssi et al. (2001)MARENSSI SA, SALANI FM and SANTILLANA SN. 2001. Geología de cabo Lamb, Isla Vega, Península Antártica. Contrib Cient Inst Antart Argent 530: 1-43..

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Figure 3
The moraine at the Abernathy Flats in James Ross Island, at the moment where the specimen MN 7800-V was collected by AWAK and LCW.

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Figure 4
Detail of MN 7800-V at the Abernathy Flats in James Ross Island.

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Figure 5
MN 7800-V, (a) and (b) the main portion of the specimen, (c) the counterpart and (d) the osteohistological section showing the cortex formed basically by primary osteons marked by the arrows, in yellow the smallest vascular canals and in red more developed vascular canals. Scale bar for (a)-(c)= 50mm, (d) 100µm.

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Figure 6
Contact between the Snow Hill, López de Bertodano e Sandwich Bluff formations at the Vega Island.

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Figure 7
MN 7801-V, interpreted as the right (?) wing metacarpal collected from Vega Island in (a) anterior, (b) ventral, (c) posterior and (d) dorsal view; (e) cross section at the middle portion of the shaft (marked by a red line in a), and (f) bone surface at the anterior view. Scale bars (a)-(e) = 100mm, (F) 10mm.

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Figure 8
- General pterosaur outline showing the anatomical position of both specimens collected from the Antarctic Peninsula. MN 7800-V from the James Ross Island, interpreted as the distal end of the first phalanx of the wing finger (above), and MN 7801-V, identified as a wing metacarpal IV (below). Not to scale.

Figure 1 Map showing the (a) location of the Antarctic Peninsula and (b) detail of the James Ross and Vega islands.where fieldwork was carried out. (c) Geologic map of the prospected area showing where the pterosaur material was collected: ▲ MN 7800-V from James Ross Island and MN 7801-V from Veja Island.

Figure 2 Stratigraphic chart of the James Ross sub-basin, showing the units where specimens were recovered - ▲ MN 7800-V from James Ross Island and MN 7801-V from the Vega Island. Modified from Olivero et al. (1986)OLIVERO EB, SCASSO RA and RINALDI CA. 1986. Revision of the Marambio Group, James Ross Island, Antarctica. Contrib Cient Inst Antart Argent 331: 1-28. and Marenssi et al. (2001)MARENSSI SA, SALANI FM and SANTILLANA SN. 2001. Geología de cabo Lamb, Isla Vega, Península Antártica. Contrib Cient Inst Antart Argent 530: 1-43..

Figure 3 The moraine at the Abernathy Flats in James Ross Island, at the moment where the specimen MN 7800-V was collected by AWAK and LCW.

Figure 4 Detail of MN 7800-V at the Abernathy Flats in James Ross Island.

Figure 5 MN 7800-V, (a) and (b) the main portion of the specimen, (c) the counterpart and (d) the osteohistological section showing the cortex formed basically by primary osteons marked by the arrows, in yellow the smallest vascular canals and in red more developed vascular canals. Scale bar for (a)-(c)= 50mm, (d) 100µm.

Figure 6 Contact between the Snow Hill, López de Bertodano e Sandwich Bluff formations at the Vega Island.

Figure 7 MN 7801-V, interpreted as the right (?) wing metacarpal collected from Vega Island in (a) anterior, (b) ventral, (c) posterior and (d) dorsal view; (e) cross section at the middle portion of the shaft (marked by a red line in a), and (f) bone surface at the anterior view. Scale bars (a)-(e) = 100mm, (F) 10mm.

Figure 8 - General pterosaur outline showing the anatomical position of both specimens collected from the Antarctic Peninsula. MN 7800-V from the James Ross Island, interpreted as the distal end of the first phalanx of the wing finger (above), and MN 7801-V, identified as a wing metacarpal IV (below). Not to scale.

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Pterodactyloid pterosaur bones from Cretaceous deposits of the Antarctic Peninsula

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[1] Correspondence to: Alexander Wilhelm Armin Kellner E-mail: kellner@mn.ufrj.br ORCid: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7174-9447