Dendrorhynchoides

Dendrorhynchoides was a genus of anurognathid pterosaur containing species known from the Early Cretaceous (early Aptian) Yixian Formation, discovered near Beipiao, Chaoyang, Liaoning, China, and from Middle Jurassic Tiaojishan Formation of Qinglong, northern Hebei Province, China. The holotype of the type species was found in the Jianshangou Bed of the Yixian Formation, dated to about 124.6 million years old.[1] However, Lü and Hone (2012) considered it possible that the holotype of D. curvidentatus was actually found in the Middle Jurassic deposits; the authors note that all other Chinese anurognathids are Jurassic in age, and that Jeholopterus was also initially thought to be a Cretaceous taxon until subsequent studies established it to be from the Jurassic.[2]

The genus was in 1998 first named Dendrorhynchus by Ji Shu'an and Ji Qiang,[3] but that name proved to be preoccupied by a nemertean parasitic worm named in 1920 by David Keilin. It was therefore renamed in 1999.[4] The type species is Dendrorhynchoides curvidentatus. The genus name is derived from Greek dendron, "tree" and rhynkhos, "snout" in reference to it being assumed a tree-dweller and presumed a close relative of Rhamphorhynchus. The specific name means "curved-toothed" in Latin. A second species, D. mutoudengensis, was described in 2012.

Description
The genus is based on holotype GMV2128, a fossil originally discovered around 1995 and obtained by science from illegal fossil dealers who first prepared it. It consists of a near-complete skeleton of a subadult individual and is crushed. Most elements are present, exceptions include the sternum, the tail end, sacrals and the fourth phalanx of the wing finger.

Of the type specimen, most parts of the skull have become detached so that its shape is difficult to determine, but it was generally short and broad. Eleven teeth have been preserved scattered throughout the matrix, that are recurved with a broader base and have a length of three millimetres. The authors identified lower jaws with a preserved length of fifteen millimetres. The cervical vertebrae are short and broad. Six dorsal vertebrae have been preserved, nine ribs and six belly ribs at the left side. The tail has a preserved length of five centimetres, but part of this is accounted for by a section that might have been added to enhance the value of the fossil. The tail vertebrae at the base, the authenticity of which is certain, are short.

The wings are relatively short. The humerus is robustly built but elongated with a length of 27 millimetres. The ulna is 35.5 millimetres long. The metacarpals are short with seven millimetres length for the first three, 9.3 millimetres for the fourth wing-bearing metacarpal. The first three fingers are well developed with the first having an elongated first phalanx. They bear short but sharp claws. The first phalanx of the fourth, wing, finger has a length of 44.5, the second of 35.6 millimetres. The size of the third cannot be established because of damage. A short and slender pteroid, 5.9 millimetres long, points towards the elbow. The wingspan is about forty centimetres, making Dendrorhynchoides one of the smallest known pterosaurs

The tibia has a length of 26.7 millimetres and is about a third longer than the femur. The fibula is reduced, reaching about half-way downwards along the tibia shaft. The foot is long with the metatarsals having a length of 12.1 millimetres. The fifth toe is elongated.

Because of the presumed long tail, the authors rejected a placement within the Anurognathidae and classified it instead as a long-tailed rhamphorhynchid, mainly in view of the general long bone proportions.[3] It was in 2000 identified as an anurognathid, and it was confirmed that the fossil had been doctored prior to its description.[5] A cladistic analysis by Alexander Kellner in 2003 had the same outcome, Dendrorhynchoides being found to form an anurognathid clade with Batrachognathus and Jeholopterus, that he named the Asiaticognathidae. An analysis by Lü Junchang in 2006 resolved the relations even further, finding Dendrorhynchoides to be the sister taxon of clade formed by the other two asiaticognathid species.

The describers postulated a tree-dwelling lifestyle for Dendrorhynchoides as an insectivore.

In 2010 a second specimen, of a juvenile, was announced, that proved that a more elongated tail was present after all, albeit not so long as the faked tail of the holotype: about 85% of femur length.[6] This specimen eventually was designated as the holotype of Dendrorhynchoides mutoudengensis.[2] The specimen was originally stored in the Guilin Geological Museum and designated GLGMV 0002; later it was moved to the Jinzhou Paleontological Museum and designated JZMP-04-07-3.