title: An Early Cretaceous pterosaur with an unusual mandibular crest from China and a potential novel feeding strategy.
abstract: The Aptian Jiufotang Formation of northeast China is a Konservat Lagerstätte particularly rich in pterosaurs, notably azhdarchoids. Here we describe a new genus and species of toothed pteranodontoid pterosaur, Ikrandraco avatar gen. et sp. nov., based on two laterally flattened specimens. Ikrandraco avatar is diagnosed by a suite of features, including a very low and elongate skull, strongly inclined quadrate, and a deep, blade-like bony mandibular crest with a hook-like process on its posterior edge, an unusual structure so far unique to this taxon. The particular skull shape hints at a distinct feeding habit for pterosaurs that potentially includes temporary skimming and an extensible skin acting as a throat pouch that was more developed than in any other pterosaur known so far. The presence of two other taxa of purported piscivorous pterosaurs in the Jiufotang Formation suggests distinct resource exploitation in this part of China during the Early Cretaceous.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 643, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Agrarian Sciences Center, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo. Alto Universitário s/n, Caixa Postal 16, Guararema, CEP 29500-000, Alegre, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Taissa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 643, Beijing 100044, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Shunxing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P. O. Box 643, Beijing 100044, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China [3] Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Systematics and Taphonomy of Fossil Vertebrates, Department of Geology and Paleontology, Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Quinta da Boa Vista s/n, São Cristóvão, CEP 20940-040, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexander W A
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Kellner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002681:China; D025061:Dinosaurs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005580:Fossils; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010802:Phylogeny; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology