PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF A PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE PTEROSAURS FROM WESTERN LIAONING AND SURROUNDING AREAS

Many pterosaurs were found recently in western Liaoning and the surrounding areas. Of the 17 genera and 18 species named, only four genera can be assigned confidently to known families. Due to the incompleteness of pterosaur remains (some are represented by postcranial material, whereas others are known from skulls only), the phylogenetic relationships of these pterosaurs are unclear. Based on the modified character matrix of Kellner (80 characters), the relationships of Liaoning pterosaurs (56 taxa, including outgroups) are explored. Preliminary results show that: 1) Dendrorhynchoides and Jeholopterus belong to Anurognathidae; 2) the clade formed by Boreopterus and Feilongus is basal to other ornithocheirids; 3) Liaoningopterus is a primitive form of Anhangueridae; 4) Beipiaopterusis a possible basal ctenochasmatoid; 5) Eosipterus is basal to Germanodacylidae; 6) Eoazhdarcho and Eopteranodon may be early forms of Azhdarchoidea; 7) Chaoyangopterus and Jidapterus may belong to Azhdarchoidea, but they are more derived than Eopteranodon and Eoazhdarcho, and 8) three Chinese tapejarids form a monophyletic group.

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