The Geology and Paleontology of the Late Cretaceous Marine Deposits of the Dakotas

Pteranodon (Reptilia: Pterosauria): Stratigraphic distribution and taphonomy in the lower Pierre Shale Group (Campanian), western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming
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Published:January 01, 2007
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CiteCitation
Jennifer E. Hargrave, 2007. "Pteranodon (Reptilia: Pterosauria): Stratigraphic distribution and taphonomy in the lower Pierre Shale Group (Campanian), western South Dakota and eastern Wyoming", The Geology and Paleontology of the Late Cretaceous Marine Deposits of the Dakotas, James E. Martin, David C. Parris
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The Cretaceous Pierre Shale Group in eastern South Dakota and western Wyoming contains numerous fossils, including the flying reptile Pteranodon, 19 specimens of which are described herein. Pteranodon specimens have been found in the two lower formations of the Pierre Shale Group: 4 in the basal Gammon Ferruginous Formation, and 15 in the overlying Sharon Springs Formation. Of these specimens, 64% are associated forelimb elements. Two factors, or a combination thereof, explain the abundance of associated forelimb elements: (1) predatory preference of the muscle mass in the chest over the wing membrane, which may not have offered much nutrient...
- Archosauria
- behavior
- Campanian
- Chordata
- Cretaceous
- Custer County South Dakota
- Diapsida
- diet
- Fall River County South Dakota
- faunal studies
- Gammon Ferruginous Member
- lithostratigraphy
- Mesozoic
- Niobrara County Wyoming
- Pennington County South Dakota
- Pierre Shale
- Pteranodon
- Pterosauria
- Reptilia
- Senonian
- Sharon Springs Member
- South Dakota
- taphonomy
- Tetrapoda
- United States
- Upper Cretaceous
- Vertebrata
- wings
- Wyoming
- Pteranodon longiceps