Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Research in Paleontology and Stratigraphy) vol. 127(2): 427-452. July 2021 A REVISION OF THE ANATOMY OF THE TRIASSIC PTEROSAUR AUSTRIADRACO DALLAVECCHIAI KELLNER, 2015 AND OF ITS DIAGNOSIS FABIO MARCO DALLA VECCHIA Institut Català de Paleontologia (ICP), Edifici ICP, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain. E-mail: fabio.dallavecchia@icp.cat To cite this article: Dalla Vecchia F.M. (2021) - A revision of the anatomy of the Triassic pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai Kellner, 2015 and of its diagnosis. Riv. It. Paleontol. Strat., 127(2): 427-452. Keywords: Pterosauria; anatomy; systematics; Alps; Norian. Abstract. Several skeletal elements preserved in the holotype and only specimen of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai Kellner, 2015 (uppermost Triassic, Austria) have not been identified or have remained undescribed in previous works. They include important elements for the systematic and phylogenetic studies such as the femur, premaxillae and maxillary teeth. The broad bone initially considered the sternal plate is plausibly formed by the fused frontals, as already suggested by some authors. The diagnosis of Austriadraco dallavecchiai is amended on the basis of new information. The close relationship of Austriadraco dallavecchiai to Seazzadactylus venieri from the uppermost Trias- sic of Friuli (north-eastern Italy) is further supported by the morphological similarity between the two taxa (e.g. they share similar postorbital process of the jugal and dorsal process of the surangular). Introduction (Wellnhofer 2003). The specimen was first reported by Wellnhofer (2001, 2003), who noticed the pres- Pterosaurs are extinct archosaur reptiles of ence of the following skeletal elements: “isolated the Mesozoic and were the first vertebrates to evol- skull elements, both mandibular rami (incomplete) ve powered flight. Late Triassic (Norian, about 215 with teeth, a few isolated teeth, cervical, dorsal and million years ago) pterosaurs are the oldest ptero- caudal vertebrae, haemapophyses, ribs, gastralia, saurs found to date, and are represented by only a sternum, both scapulocoracoids, humeri, manual handful of specimens mainly found in the Alpine claws, a first wing phalanx, one half of the pelvis, region of Europe (Dalla Vecchia 2013). ?femur, tibia/fibula, ?metatarsals, pedal phalanges The early pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai and many bone fragments of uncertain identity” Kellner, 2015 is based on a single specimen (BSP (Wellnhofer 2003: 8). Wellnhofer (2003) described 1994 I 51) found in 1994 in the middle-late Norian and figured the jugal (Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 3A); an Seefeld Formation along the western flank of the isolated “pseudo-unicuspid” tooth (fig. 4A) tenta- Karwendel Mountains in the Northern Calcare- tively identified as a mid-maxillary tooth or alterna- ous Alps near the town of Seefeld in Tyrol, Austria tively as a mandibular tooth 3; an isolated unicuspid tooth tentatively identified as a rostral premaxillary tooth (fig. 4B); two partial mandibular rami with Received: March 16, 2021; accepted: June 07, 2021 teeth (figs 5-8); cervical vertebrae (fig. 9); dorsal ribs 428 Dalla Vecchia F.M. and vertebrae (fig. 9A); a sternal plate (figs 9A and (preserved as an impression), the distal part of the 11A); some caudal vertebrae and haemapophyses left tibiotarsus, six metapodials tentatively referred (figs 9B and 10); the scapulocoracoids (figs 9A and as metatarsals, two small phalanges and an ungual 12); the left humerus (figs 9A, 13 and 14B); the right phalanx were described (Dalla Vecchia 2014: 90) wing phalanx 1 (fig. 15A); the right tibia (actually, a but not figured. The presence of a postorbital, part tibiotarsus) and fibula (fig. 15B); and a hemipelvis of the basicranium, two sclerotic ring elements, and (identified as the left one because of the purported a tarsal bone was also mentioned; however, these exposure of the acetabulum; fig. 16). A pedal un- elements were not figured nor described in detail, gual phalanx (see fig. 9B) is mentioned in the cap- because the declared intent of the author was to tion of his figure 9, but it is not described in the describe in detail specimen BSP 1994 I 51and name text. The whole specimen, preserved on “blocks a new taxon based on it in a different paper then I-V” (Wellnhofer 2003: 8), was also figured with an in progress (Dalla Vecchia 2014: 82-83). Dalla Vec- interpretive drawing (Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 2), but chia (2014: 82) referred specimen BSP 1994 I 51 as the small size of the image prevents the identifica- “genus and species to be named”, as it had already tion of the individual elements. The right humerus been done by Dalla Vecchia (2009a). (preserved as an impression only; Wellnhofer 2003: Based on BSP 1994 I 51, Kellner (2015) 15) and two incomplete wing phalanges tentatively erected the new genus and species Austriadraco dal- identified as wing phalanges 3 and 4 (Wellnhofer lavecchiai and created for it the monospecific Family 2003: 16) were summarily described but not fig- Austriadraconidae. Kellner (2015) did not identify ured. Some other elements were mentioned but or describe further skeletal elements or further fea- not described. They include “several fragments tures in the specimen BSP 1994 I 51 beyond those of skull bones” that are “only partly preserved, as described and figured by Wellnhofer (2003). Kell- impressions” on “blocks IV and V” and “are too ner’s only contribution to the osteology of BSP fragmentary for reliable identification” (p. 8); and 1994 I 51 was to identify as the fused frontals the fragmentary long bones on “block IV” that “are element that Wellnhofer (2003) had referred to a probably those of radius and ulna” (p. 15). The sternal plate (although this element is still reported gastralia, manual claws, ?femur, ?metatarsals, and as a sternum in Kellner 2015: fig. 2). However, the pedal phalanges listed on p. 8 are not mentioned identification as the fused frontals by Kellner was elsewhere in the text. Wellnhofer (2003: 7) referred based on Kellner’s personal observation as well as specimen BSP 1994 I 51 to Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii on the reference to the same identification made by Zambelli 1973. Bennett (2015: 801) (i.e. “Bennett in press”, Kell- In his monograph dedicated to the Triassic ner 2015: 676). The paper by Bennett (2015), which pterosaurs, Dalla Vecchia (2014) reported all of the had been submitted for publication before Kellner bones described by Wellnhofer (2003) and figured (2015) and still reported the specimen as ‘Eudimor- them (figs 4.1.32-45). The unicuspid isolated tooth phodon’ cf. ranzii, focused on the partial mandibular was identified as a one of the first and unicuspid rami of BSP 1994 I 51, confirming the previous mandibular teeth or a premaxillary tooth; the other identification by Nesbitt & Hone (2010) of the isolated tooth described by Wellnhofer (2003) was more complete ramus as a right element bearing a identified as a maxillary tooth but from a more me- lateral mandibular fenestra. Bennett (2015) identi- sial position with respect to that hypothesized by fied the “sternum” as the fused frontals in the gen- Wellnhofer (2003). A cervical vertebra, identified eral description of the specimen. by Wellnhofer (2003: 12) as a cervical 3 or 4, was Because of the publication by Kellner (2015), figured in detail (Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.37) Dalla Vecchia did not publish his in progress paper and reidentified as cervical 8. Five dorsal vertebrae mentioned in Dalla Vecchia (2014). Later, Dalla were reported (two more than in the description Vecchia (2018: fig. 3B) figured the postorbital and by Wellnhofer). The identification of the broad two sclerotic ring elements of BSP 1994 I 51. Fi- triangular bone as the sternal plate by Wellnhofer nally, Dalla Vecchia (2019: fig. 9C) figured the ba- (2003) was provisionally accepted, but the possibil- sicranium of BSP 1994 I 51 and highlighted the ity that it may actually be another skeletal element strict relationships between Austriadraco dallavecchiai was considered (Dalla Vecchia 2014: 88). A femur and the new taxon Seazzadactylus venieri. Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 429 Comparison with the latter taxon now al- tologie und Geologie, Munich (Germany); BYU, Museum of Pale- ontology, Brigham Young University, Provo (USA); MCSNB, Museo lows the identification of some skeletal elements Civico di Scienze Naturali di Bergamo “E. Caffi”, Bergamo (Italy); of BSP 1994 I 51 that had remained indeterminate MFSN, Museo Friulano di Storia Naturale, Udine (Italy); MGUH, and permits us to revise the identification of some Geologisk Museum - Statens Naturhistoriske Museum, Københavns further elements. Universitet, Copenhagen (Denmark); MPUM, Museo Paleontologico del Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano (Italy); Here, the skeletal elements of BSP 1994 I 51 SMNS, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (Germany). that have not been identified by Wellnhofer (2003) or Kellner (2015) nor have they been described and figured by these authors and by Dalla Vecchia Systematic Palaeontology (2014) are described and discussed. Furthermore, a revised diagnosis of Austriadraco dallavecchiai is pro- Diapsida Osborn, 1903 vided. Pterosauria Kaup, 1834 Unnamed clade in Dalla Vecchia, 2019 Austriadraco Kellner, 2015 Materials, terminology and methods Austriadraco dallavecchiai Kellner, 2015 The holotype of Austriadraco dallavecchiai BSP 1994 I 51 is preserved on a limestone block that was broken into five fragments Figs 1-7A-D, 8-12 and 14B (numbered I to V, corresponding to blocks I-V of Wellnhofer 2003) and the counterslab of fragment IV. Fragment I contains only a small 2001 Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Wellnhofer, p. 100, figure at p. 100. piece of bone and is not shown in Figure 1. 2002 Eudimorphodon - Dalla Vecchia, p. 47. The specimen BSP 1994 I 51 was studied at the BSP using a 2003 Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Wellnhofer, p. 7, pp. 5-22, figs 2-3A, 4-11A, 12-14B, and 15-16, tab. 1. binocular microscope in 2006 and 2018. 2003 [it] has been referred to E. cf. ranzii - Dalla Vecchia, pp. 25, 28 The specimens MFSN 1797, MFSN 21545 and MPUM 6009 and 33. were studied at the MFSN using a Wild M3 binocular microscope. 2003 Eudimorphodon sp. - Unwin, p. 177. Observation on specimens MCSNB 2886, MCSNB 2887, MCSNB 2004 Eudimorphodon sp. - Unwin, p. 39. 2888, MCSNB 3359, MCSNB 3496, MCSNB 8950, BNM 145124, 2004 Eudimorphodon - Dalla Vecchia (2004a), pp. 50, 62 and 66, fig. BYU 20707 and SMNS 50735 was made personally in the Museums 5D, tab. I. where they are deposited. 2004 Eudimorphodon ... identified as E. cf. ranzii by Wellnhofer (2001), The term ‘non-monofenestratan pterosaur’ is used for all the but the many osteological differences with MCSNB 2888 genera once included in the Suborder Rhamphorhynchoidea of Lin- would suggest a different specific attribution - Dalla Vecchia nean systematics (see Wellnhofer 1978), which is a paraphyletic group (2004b), p. 19. 2006 Eudimorphodon - Dalla Vecchia, p. 438. according to the phylogenetic systematics (e.g. Kellner 2003; Unwin 2006 Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Fröbisch & Fröbisch, pp. 1088-1089, 2003; and Dalla Vecchia 2009a). Enclosure in single quotation marks fig. 5. in the following part of the text indicates that the validity of the taxon 2008 Eudimorphodon cf. E. ranzii - Barrett, Butler, Edwards & Milner, is doubtful, or in need of a formal revision. p. 62. Following Dalla Vecchia (2009a), Eudimorphodon ranzii is con- 2008 Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Stecher, pp. 196 and 200, fig. 10C, sidered to be represented only by the holotype specimen (MCSNB tabs 2-3. 2888); according to Dalla Vecchia (2018) and contra Kellner (2015), 2009 it does not belong to Eudimorphodon and Carniadactylus as well MPUM 6009 is retained in Carniadactylus rosenfeldi. MCSNB 8950 (E. and represents a new taxon - Dalla Vecchia (2009a), p. 182, ranzii for Wild 1994) does not belong to E. ranzii and is a distinct, figs 3E, 4H, 11D and12, tabs 2-3. still unnamed taxon according to Dalla Vecchia (2009a, 2014). The 2009 attributed to Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii Zambelli, 1973 by Welln- hofer (2003), but belongs to a new unnamed taxon - Dalla affinities of MCSNB 2887 (E. ranzii for Wild 1979) remain uncertain. Vecchia (2009b), pp. 291 and 302, tab. 2. Raeticodactylus filisurensis is probably congeneric with Caviramus schesap- 2009 Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Butler, Barrett & Gower, pp. 1-3, fig. lanensis (see Dalla Vecchia 2009a), but the two taxa are here retained, 1(e). following Dalla Vecchia (2014), and pending a formal revision based 2010 referred to Eudimorphodon cf. ranzii - Nesbitt & Hone, pp. 225- on new specimens. 226, 228 and 231, figs 1f-g and 2d. The orientation of the forelimb bones is that in the flight 2010 Eudimorphodon ranzii - Ősi, tab. 1. position and the terminology used by Bennett (2001) was followed for 2013 a yet unnamed taxon - Dalla Vecchia, pp. 129 and 133, 140-142 the orientation of the bones in the space, but “cranial” and “caudal” and 145, figs 7, 11 and 18b, tab. 1. are preferred to “anterior” and “posterior”. The anatomical terminol- 2014 Genere e specie da denominare - Dalla Vecchia, p. 82 and pp. ogy for the skeleton is that of Romer (1956), unless specified other- 82-91, figs 4.1.32-45. 2014 Peteinosaurus zambellii - Hyder, Witton & Martill, fig. 4, appendix wise. The terminology used for teeth and dentition in general is that 1. used in Dalla Vecchia (2019). The tibiotarsus is the resulting element 2015 ‘Eudimorphodon’ cf. ranzii - Bennett, p. 801, fig. 8. from the fusion of the tibia and the proximal tarsals. 2015 Austriadraco dallavecchiai n. gen. n. sp. Kellner, p. 674 - pp. 674- In the drawing of the figures, tooth crowns are shaded dark 677, fig. 2, tabs I-II. grey; the bones are pale grey, whereas their impressions are white. 2018 Austriadraco dallavecchiai - Dalla Vecchia, pp. 317, 320, 322-324, 330, 333 and 337, figs 1A and 3B, tab. 1. Institutional abbreviations – BNM, Bündner Naturmuse- 2019 Austriadraco dallavecchiai - Dalla Vecchia, pp. 1-2, 11-12, 15, 20- um, Chur, Switzerland; BSP, Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläon- 21, 31, 38, 40-50 and 52, figs 7C, 9C, 10E-F, and 23C. 430 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Holotype and only specimen: BSP 1994 I 51. Distribution: middle-upper Norian (Alaunian 3-Sevatian1) Seefeld Formation of Tyrol, Austria. Diagnosis by Kellner (2015): Austriadraco dallavecchiai is di- agnosed by five autapomorphies and an apomorphic combination of characters within non-pterodactyloid pterosaurs. Apomorphies are: 1) frontal with short anterior processes; 2) jugal with small maxillary and nasal processes, and a thin and elonga- ted postorbital process; 3) presence of an external mandibular fene- stra; 4) surangular dorsal process low; 5) scapula significantly longer than the coracoid (sc/co ~ 1.62). The apomorphic combination of characters is: broad coracoid with constricted shaft; deep ischiopubic plate; comparatively large tibia relative to the humerus (humerus/ tibiotarsus length < 0.70) and to the wing phalanx 1 (wing phalanx 1/tibiotarsus length - 0.92). Amended diagnosis: Austriadraco dallavecchiai is diagnosed by the following autapomorphies: jugal with very slender rostrodorsal (lacrimal) process which is directed rostrodorsally forming an angle of only 11° with the shorter rostroventral (maxillary) process, con- sequently producing a finger-like caudoventral end of the antorbital fenestra; large frontals with very narrow and long rostral (nasal) pro- cesses and a shorter and pointed rostromedian process in the plate originated from their fusion; external mandibular fenestra present; multicusped tooth crowns with ‘parasite’ cuspule on the larger acces- sory cusps; mandibular tooth 3 with distally recurved crown bearing small cuspules at the base of the mesial margin and along most of the distal margin; fan-shaped shaft of the coracoid with distally diverg- ing margins and much broader distally than proximally; rectangular and deeper than long caudal process of ischium with the height of its distal side that is over 70% the total height of the ischium; and ischium bearing a large and ventrally directed triangular process in the ventral margin. Integrative description of BSP 1994 I 51 Although the holotypic skeleton is disartic- ulated and the skeletal elements are “distributed irregularly on the surface” of the limestone block (Wellnhofer 2003: 7-8), bones from the same part of the body (i.e. skull, torso, tail, wings, etc.) are still partly associated and the original anatomical polar- ity is partly maintained (i.e. cranial bones are at one extremity of the specimen and caudal elements at the opposite extremity; Fig. 1). Cranial elements, Fig. 1 - Austriadraco dallavecchiai, BSP 1994 I 51, holotype. Abbre- viations: ?, indeterminate skeletal element; II-V, fragments II-V of the limestone block; bas, basicranium; cdv, caudal vertebra/ae; cv, cervical vertebra (cv8, cervical vertebra 8); d, dentary; dr, dorsal rib; dv, dorsal vertebra; fr, fron- tals; fe, femur; fi, fibula; h, humerus; hm, haemapophysis; j, jugal; l., left; mdt, medial distal tarsal; mth, mandibular tooth; mr, mandibular ramus; mtp, metapodial; mx, maxilla; mxth, maxillary tooth; oc, occiput; ph, phalanx (excluded wing phalanges and phalanges of pedal digit V; pmx, prema- xillae; pmxth, premaxillary teeth; po, postorbital; pp, pelvic plate; psc, proximal syncarpal; r., right; scl, sclerotic ring ele- ments; sco, scapulocoracoid; so, supraorbital or parietal; sq, squamosal; ti, tibiotarsus; u, ulna; veg, plant (Brachiphyllum); uph, ungual phalanx; wph1-4, wing phalanges 1-4. Scale bar equals 100 mm. Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 431 Fig. 2 - Austriadraco dallavecchiai, BSP 1994 I 51, holotype, skull elements. Abbreviations: IV and V, fragments IV and V; bas, basisphenoid; bpt, ba- sipterygoid processes of the basisphenoid; j, jugal; mr, mandibular ramus; mth, mandibular tooth; mx, max- illa; mxth, maxillary tooth; oc, occiput; p, parietal; pmx, premaxillae; pmxth, premax- illary teeth; po, postorbital; r., right; scl, sclerotic ring element; so, supraorbital; and sq, squamosal. Scale bar equals 10 mm. scattered teeth and the right mandibular ramus are a partially preserved squamosal and perhaps a frag- clustered around the boundary between fragment mentary parietal or supraorbital. The third ‘cluster’ IV and V (Figs 1-2). The left mandibular ramus is is actually only part of the braincase, probably over- just slightly shifted to overlap with the close clus- lapped by a dorsal rib. ter including humeri, scapulocoracoids, and dorsal Premaxilla. The 19-mm-long impression of a vertebrae and ribs in the mid of fragment IV (Fig. bone located near the margin of fragment V at the 1). Caudal vertebrae are grouped along the right boundary with fragment IV is associated with two margin of fragments III and IV (according to their unicuspid premaxillary teeth (see below). This skel- orientation in Fig. 1) near the boundary between the etal element has a main body from which two pro- fragments. The left hemipelvis, elements belonging cesses depart bordering a deep notch; one process to the left hind limb and four wing phalanges (pre- is short whereas the other is much longer and strap- sumably all from the right wing digit) also occur like (Fig. 3). The latter is divided by a longitudinal around the boundary between fragments III and line that continues into the main body. This skeletal IV, but they are clustered at the centre of the block element was erroneously identified as the second (Fig. 1). jugal by Dalla Vecchia (2014). The association with the other skull bones (Fig. 1) and with the unicuspid Skull bones teeth, its shape and the comparison with the pre- The skull elements are distributed in three maxillae of Eudimorphodon ranzii (see Wild 1979: fig. closely set clusters, which are close to the right man- 1), Campylognathoides liasicus (see Wellnhofer 1974: dibular ramus (Fig. 2). The only skull element that fig. 2) and Campylognathoides zitteli (see Padian 2008b: is not preserved in these clusters is the frontal plate fig. 2), suggest that this element represents the com- (see the discussion below), which is closer to the bined premaxillae. The longitudinal line is the dorsal humeri, scapulocoracoids and dorsal ribs and verte- boundary between the two premaxillae, the longer brae (Fig. 1). One cluster comprises the premaxillae, process is made of the two dorsocaudal (frontal) two premaxillary teeth, a jugal, part of a maxilla and processes, the shorter process is the ventrocaudal putative fragments of the other maxilla, an isolated (maxillary) process of the left premaxilla and the maxillary tooth and several fragmentary elements notch is the rostral margin of the left external naris. that cannot be identified. The second cluster in- The dorsocaudal processes are incomplete caudally cludes a postorbital, three sclerotic ring elements, where they end against the impression of the jugal. 432 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Fig. 3 - Premaxillae and jugal of Austriadraco dallavecchiai, BSP 1994 I 51, holotype. A) The skeletal elements as preserved; B) interpre- tive drawing. Abbreviations: aof, antorbital fenestra; en, external naris; fp, frontal (dorsocaudal) process of premaxilla; j, jugal; l, left; lcp, lacrimal process of jugal; ltf, lower temporal fenestra; mp, maxillary process of jugal; mxp, maxillary (ventrocau- dal) process of premaxilla; pmxt, premaxillary teeth; pop, postorbital process of jugal; qjp, quadratojugal pro- cess of jugal; and r, right. The scale bar equals 10 mm. Maxilla. Within the cluster of skull elements process is rostrally directed and is parallel to the axis in the upper left corner of fragment IV in Figure of the main body; the rostrodorsal process is longer 1, there is a 4 mm-long fragment of a slender and than the rostroventral one and is directed rostrally tapering bone with a single tricuspid tooth (Fig. 4). and slightly dorsally (Fig. 3). These processes form The fragment is identified as a portion of the dis- an angle of only 11°. The orientation, size, shape tal part of the jugal process of a maxilla (cf. Dalla and closeness of these processes indicate that the Vecchia 2019: fig. 5). Some traces of the impression caudoventral end of the antorbital fenestra was of this maxilla and possibly small fragments of its narrow and finger-like. The caudoventral (quadra- premaxillary process are also preserved, but they do tojugal) process is also short and triangular in lat- not allow reconstruction of the outline of the bone eromedial view. The caudodorsal (postorbital) pro- or the identification other significant features. Near cess is very long (ca. 8.5 mm), slender and slightly the premaxillae on block V, there are possible frag- recurved, resembling that of Seazzadactylus venieri ments of the other maxilla (Fig. 2). (see Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 7); it tapers distally and Jugal. The jugal was described and figured by probably bore a dorsocaudal facet for the articula- Wellnhofer (2003: fig. 3A) and Dalla Vecchia (2014: tion with the jugal process of the postorbital. The fig. 4.1.33, 2019: fig. 7C). It is preserved as an im- caudodorsal process is caudally inclined at about pression close to the premaxilla (Fig. 3) and is 14 130° with respect to the axis of the jugal body. mm long. It has a peculiar shape. The main body Frontal. A broad and plate-like skeletal ele- is comparatively short and sub-rectangular. The ment is preserved as bone in fragment IV (Fig. 5A) rostroventral (maxillary) and rostrodorsal (lacrimal) and as an impression in the counterslab of fragment processes are short and slender. The rostroventral IV (Fig. 5B). It is associated with the humeri, scap- Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 433 Fig. 4 - Distal fragment of the ju- gal process of a maxilla of Austriadraco dallavecchiai, BSP 1994 I 51, holotype. A tricuspid tooth is still pre- served within its alveolus. Abbreviations: 1, accessory cusp 1 of the tooth; mcu, main cusp of the tooth. The scale bar equals 1 mm. ulocoracoids and the main concentration of dorsal ventral to them (Fig. 5E-F). This rostromedian pro- ribs and vertebrae of the block (Fig. 1). This bone cess occurs in the notch where the long caudodor- was identified as a sternum by Wellnhofer (2003), sal processes of the premaxillae articulated with the but reinterpreted as the fused frontals by Bennett frontal (Wellnhofer 1978: figs 2 and 3). (2015: 801) and Kellner (2015: 674). The identifica- Postorbital. The postorbital is triradiate and Y- tion as the frontal plate in dorsal view is considered shaped (Fig. 6) with slender jugal, squamosal and here the most plausible and is explained below in frontal rami. The squamosal and frontal rami form the Discussion section. an angle of about 80°. This indicates that the upper The element has the outline of an asymmet- temporal fenestra had a somewhat acute ventrolat- rical rhombus, broader caudally and narrower ros- eral margin. The frontal ramus is nearly completely trally, with three processes at the rostral end (Fig. 5). covered by a sclerotic ring element. The squamosal It is ca.19 mm long from the tip of the rostrolateral ramus is broken distally; its preserved portion is as processes to the caudal extremity of the plate; its long as the frontal ramus. The jugal ramus is slightly maximum width is ca.13.5 mm. A thin and median recurved and is also incomplete distally. This grac- longitudinal line in the caudal half of the element ile postorbital is very similar to those of specimen divides the bone into two symmetrical parts; it is the MPUM 6009 of Carniadactylus rosenfeldi (see Dalla sutural line between the two frontals, which is oblit- Vecchia 2018: fig. 3A-B) and the holotype of Seaz- erated in the rostral part of the plate. The orbital zadactylus venieri (see Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 6A). margins are slightly convex along the main body of Sclerotic ring elements. Three elements of the the plate, but they become concave at the passage sclerotic ring are associated with the postorbital to the rostrolateral processes. The portions of the (Fig. 6). Two are complete and one is partially pre- plate bordering the orbits are apparently thicker served. They have a subcircular outline and are very than the rest of the plate; these portions are nar- thin with a smooth surface. The association of these rower caudally and expand rostrally. However, their three elements with the postorbital shows that they apparent thickness in the impression of the bone did not drift away from their anatomical position as (Fig. 5C) is emphasized by their concavity in the ac- some long bones did. This supports the identifica- tual bone as it is exposed (Fig. 5A). The portion of tion of the close elements as belonging to the same the element located between these two lateral and part of the skull as the postorbital. apparently thicker parts is flat and thin; its rostral Supraorbital or parietal: A bone preserved be- part shows a grainy aspect. The caudal parietal mar- tween the purported squamosal (see below) and the gin has a flared V-like outline. The two rostrolat- postorbital is subtriangular and slightly arched; it eral processes are thin and elongated, straight and tapers toward one extremity (Fig. 6). Its presumed slightly splayed; they are the nasal processes (see ventral margin is more curved than the presumed Codorniú et al. 2016: fig. 1B; see Discussion). The dorsal one. The bone is crushed and a fracture ex- third and rostromedian process is pointed, shorter tends longitudinally along its entire body. The po- and thicker than the rostrolateral processes and lies sition of this element between the squamosal and 434 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Fig. 5 - Fused frontals (frontal plate) of the holotype of Austriadraco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51). A) The plate as preserved on fragment IV; B) the impression of the plate on the counterslab of fragment IV; C) the impression of the plate on the counterslab with a low-angle illumination; D) interpretive drawing; E) particular of the rostral portion of the plate with the three processes; F) interpretive drawing of figure E. Abbreviations: np, nasal (rostrolateral) process; om, orbital margin; pam, parietal margin; rmp, rostromedian process; su, suture. The scale bar equals 10 mm. the postorbital is that of the frontal or the parietal. gin may be the dorsal margin of the upper temporal The bone has the outline of the element that Pa- fenestra. Therefore, its identification as a parietal dian (2008a: pl. 5, fig. 4) identified as the frontal in cannot be dismissed. An alternative identification is Dorygnathus banthensis specimen SMNS 18969. How- that of the circumorbital bone identified by Welln- ever, the frontals are broad bones in basal ptero- hofer (1978: fig. 2), Wild (1979: fig. 1), Sangster saurs (see below) and are comparatively larger than (2003: fig. 2.3) and O’Sullivan & Martill (2017: fig. this element. Furthermore, the fused frontals are 5a) as the supraorbital and by Bennett (2014: fig. close to the left humerus in BSP 1994 I 51. The 5A) as the lacrimal. This skull bone partly borders parietal, when complete, would probably have a dif- the orbit and has a similar shape and curvature to ferent shape (Wellnhofer 1975a: fig. 3a-b; Padian the element under examination, although it is wider 2008b: figs 2, 4 and 6 and fig. 2 of pl. 7; Britt et rostrally and thinner caudally and is proportionally al. 2018: fig. 3n-o). However, the bone preserved in much smaller. That appearing as the ventral margin BSP 1994 I 51 may be just a compressed fragment in the element of BSP 1994 I 51 resembles an or- of the broken parietal; in that case, its ventral mar- bital margin, supporting this identification. Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 435 Fig. 6 - Some elements from the posterior part of the skull of the holotype of Austria- draco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51). A) The bones as pre- served on fragment IV; B) interpretive drawing. Ab- breviations: ?, indeterminate element; fp, frontal process of the postorbital; jp, jugal process of the postorbital; ltf, lower temporal fenestra; p, parietal; scl, sclerotic ring element; so, supraorbital; sq, squamosal; sqp, squamosal process of the postorbital. The scale bar equals 10 mm. Squamosal. Another bone associated with the 2019: fig. 9A) and other basal pterosaurs (e.g. Car- postorbital has a broad main body and a long and niadactylus rosenfeldi, Dalla Vecchia 2009a: fig. 2A, pointed process that is slightly recurved (Fig. 6). 2014, fig. 4.1.103; 'Raeticodactylus' filisurensis, Dalla The main body is broken and incomplete and partly Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.160; Dorygnathus banthensis, Pa- overlaps another broad bone, which is probably in- dian 2008a: pl. 5/fig. 3, pl. 8/fig. 2, figs 12 and 17; complete too. The squamosal is the element of the and Rhamphorhynchus muensteri, Wellnhofer 1975a: fig. posterior part of the pterosaur skull that bears simi- 3d). The basipterygoid processes are flattened in the lar elongated and pointed processes (the quadrate, same vertical plane as the occiput but were origi- postorbital and parietal processes), which project nally directed ventrorostrally. from a broad main body (e.g. Wellnhofer 1975a: fig. 3a-b, 1975b: fig. 33, 1978: fig. 2; Dalla Vecchia et al. Teeth 2002: fig. 2; Padian 2008a: figs 6 and 16). Premaxillary teeth. The isolated unicuspid Braincase. Part of the occipital region of the tooth (Fig. 7A) was described and figured by Welln- braincase and the basicranium are preserved close hofer (2003: fig. 4B) and Dalla Vecchia (2014: fig. to the squamosal, supraorbital or parietal and post- 4.1.36A). It has been tentatively identified as a ros- orbital, in a caudal position respect to them. This tral premaxillary tooth by Wellnhofer (2003), but portion of the skull was figured by Dalla Vecchia may alternatively be one of the symphysial man- (2019: fig. 9C). The occipital elements are poorly dibular teeth (cf. Seazzadactylus venieri, Dalla Vecchia preserved (they remained partly on the slab and 2019: fig. 15A-B). As it is preserved very close to partly on the counterslab when the rock split). The the cranial element representing the joint premaxil- basicranium shows the basisphenoid with the slen- lae (Fig. 3), Wellnhofer’s identification is confirmed. der and diverging basipterygoid processes, similar Another similar but damaged premaxillary tooth is to those of Seazzadactylus venieri (see Dalla Vecchia preserved close to this tooth (Figs 2-3). 436 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Fig. 7 - Teeth of the holotypes of Austriadraco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51) and Seazzadactylus venieri (MFSN 21545). A) Premaxillary tooth of BSP 1994 I 51; B) mesial maxillary tooth of BSP 1994 I 51; C) mid-distal mandibular tooth of BSP 1994 I 51; D) mesial mandibular tooth of BSP 1994 I 51, probably tooth 3; and E) crown of the right mandibular tooth 3 of S. venieri, labial view. Abbreviations: 1-3, accessory cusps 1-3; cr, crown; cu, cuspules/denticles; mcu, main cusp; pcu, ‘parasite’ accessory cuspule; rc, ‘root’ canal; rt, ‘root’; and sw, swelling. The scale bar equals 1 mm in A-D and 0.5 mm in E; sizes of BSP 1994 I 51 teeth in A, C and D are those reported in Wellnhofer (2003). A and C are redrawn from Wellnhofer (2003), E is from Dalla Vecchia (2019); in A and C, the portion of the tooth covered by enamel is in dark grey. Maxillary teeth. The crown of the tooth pre- of this tooth is about as high as the crowns of the served in situ in the fragment of the jugal process largest mandibular teeth (cf. Wellnhofer 2003: fig. of the maxilla (Fig. 4) is mesiodistally longer than 7); it is higher basoapically than it is long mesio- basoapically high (height ~0.70 mm; height/width distally (height/width ratio = 1.14). Its main cusp ratio = 0.83). It is fully erupted and tricuspid, with is much basoapically higher than mesiodistally a large and broad main cusp and two small and long and slightly recurved (i.e. it is slightly asym- pointed accessory cusps, one mesial and the other metrical; cf. Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 12B-D); the distal. The exposed crown surface is smooth. This exposed side is convex and smooth. There are two is probably one of the distalmost maxillary teeth if accessory cusps along the distal margin and three not the last one (cf. Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 5). The along the mesial margin (the largest are the second distalmost teeth of the right mandibular ramus are and third accessory cusps, respectively; Fig. 7B), also tricuspid (Wellnhofer 2003: figs 5-7). plus a small ‘parasite’ accessory cusp developed on An isolated tooth is preserved close to the the basal part of largest mesial and distal accessory ventral margin of the maxilla, approximately in cusps. Therefore, this tooth can be considered to correspondence of the presumable position of its have a total of eight cusps or to be hexacuspid if ascending process. The tooth (crown plus ‘root’) is the small ‘parasite’ cusps are considered as parts 2.7 mm high basoapically. The boundary between of the largest accessory cusps. The basal accessory the crown and the ‘root’ is not clear but, based cusps are very small, especially the mesial one. The on the position of the first accessory cusp (Fig. accessory cusps are pointed, except the most api- 7B), the crown is about as basoapically high (~1.35 cal on both sides (i.e. the largest accessory cusps) mm) as the preserved part of the ‘root’. The crown which are somewhat blunt apically. The ‘root’ is Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 437 tongue-shaped and relatively short like that of the (Fig. 7D; Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 4A); topographi- left maxillary tooth 8 of Seazzadactylus venieri (see cally separate elevations along the cutting margins Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 12F) and is apically dam- (cuspules, crenulations and/or swellings) are less aged. developed along the mesial margin than along the This isolated tooth is very close to the max- distal margin. illa, which would support its identification as a dis- Wellnhofer (2003) tentatively identified this placed maxillary tooth. However, the mesialmost tooth as one of the large maxillary teeth set be- dentary teeth are not preserved in either of the low the ascending process of the maxilla, by anal- mandibular rami and the multicusped mandibular ogy with the condition in Eudimorphodon ranzii (see teeth of his specimen can also occasionally bear Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.77B and 83), or alter- ‘parasite’ cuspules on the main accessory cusps natively as a mandibular tooth 3 (by analogy with (Fig. 7C). Therefore, this tooth might be one of specimen MPUM 6009 of Carniadactylus rosenfeldi; the mesialmost multi-cusped dentary teeth. An see Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.140A-B). Dalla identification as a mesial maxillary tooth is sug- Vecchia (2014: 87) considered more probable gested because of the slightly recurved main cusp, provenance from the rostral half of the maxilla, which is a feature of the maxillary crowns 2 and but this was before the presence of the remains of 3 of the closely related Seazzadactylus venieri (see the maxilla and the nearby tooth were identified. Dalla Vecchia 2019: fig. 12B-D) and because of its The crown of this tooth is no larger than short ‘root’. The mesialmost multicusped dentary those of the fully grown mid-dentary teeth, teeth are probably represented by the other non- whereas the crowns of the mid-maxillary teeth of unicuspid isolated tooth (see below), which lies E. ranzii are much larger than those of the mid- closer to a mandibular ramus and has a different dentary teeth (Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.77B and morphology. 82). In pterosaurs, the premaxillary teeth are usu- Mesial mandibular tooth. The isolated tooth ally like the first mandibular teeth or at least not preserved close to the right mandibular ramus much different in morphology (Wellnhofer 1978: (Fig. 1) is nearly complete (the apex of the ‘root’ is fig. 2; Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.3A-B, 13, 82- represented by an impression; Fig. 7D); it is about 83, 139-140A and 159, 2019: figs 3-4, 11 and 15A- 3.5 mm basoapically high and 0.95 mm in maxi- B), whereas the tooth under examination is unlike mum mesiodistal length. Both mesial and distal the premaxillary teeth. Therefore, this tooth can margins of the tooth bear denticles and crenula- be only one of the mesialmost non-unicuspid den- tions (Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 4A). Establishing the tary teeth, which are not preserved in either of the exact boundary between crown and ‘root’ is dif- mandibular rami, or a maxillary tooth. As noted ficult in this tooth; the portion of the tooth that is above, a purported maxillary tooth is preserved covered by enamel is basoapically shorter than that close to the maxilla and is unlike this tooth. not covered (it extends along the apical 36% of Tooth 3 of MPUM 6009 differs from the pre- the tooth), but marginal crenulations or cuspules maxillary teeth and mandibular teeth 1-2 in bearing extend along the enamel-less portion (Fig. 7D). a single and small distal accessory cusp. The crown However, the crown is evidently much higher ba- of mandibular tooth 3 of Seazzadactylus venieri is soapically than it is mesiodistally long. The enamel more similar to the crown of the tooth under ex- is smooth, and the crown is slightly recurved dis- amination in being much higher than mesiodistally tally in lateral view and flattened labiolingually. The long and bearing three mesial and three distal small distal cutting margin bears three cuspules which accessory cusps (with distal accessory cusps that are just slightly splayed apicodistally and possibly are larger than the mesial ones; Fig. 7E), although it at least two further smaller cuspules more apically is not recurved distally and the accessory cusps are (Fig. 7D; Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 4A); a swelling oc- located in the basal part of the crown only. There- curs more basally with respect to the three cus- fore, the tooth close to the right mandibular ramus pules. The mesial cutting margin appears to bear at is here identified as a mandibular tooth 3, which is least three diminutive cuspules at level of the three transitional between the first unicuspid mandibu- larger distal cuspules, and possibly some further lar teeth and the following multicusped teeth with cuspules or crenulations in a more basal position well-developed accessory cusps. 438 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Axial skeleton Pelvic girdle Cervical, dorsal and caudal vertebrae and dorsal Only an isolated and incomplete pelvic plate ribs. Two disarticulated cervical vertebrae can be (hemipelvis) is preserved (partly as an impression identified on fragment IV and one on fragment only) in BSP 1994 I 51; it was figured by Wellnhofer III (Fig. 1). The cervical vertebra close to the ex- (2003: fig. 16) and Dalla Vecchia (2014: fig. 4.1.44). tremity of the right scapula shows large pneumatic Ilium, ischium and pubis are fused to each other foramina (Butler et al. 2009: fig. 1e; Kellner 2015: without any evident suture, but the plate was un- fig. 2f). The cervical vertebrae have been described fused with the sacrum. There are no distinct facets and figured in Wellnhofer (2003: fig. 9) and Dalla for the articulation of the sacral ribs on this bone. Vecchia (2014: fig. 4.1.37). Wellnhofer (2003: fig. 16) reported the circular trace At least four dorsal vertebrae and thirteen of the acetabulum, which appears to be very shallow dorsal ribs are preserved around the left humer- and placed rather cranially on the plate, unlike other us and further two ribs are close by (Fig. 1; see pterosaurs. Actually, there is no rounded depression also Wellnhofer 2003: fig. 9A and Dalla Vecchia but only a craniocaudally elongated and shallow de- 2014: fig. 4.1.41). A dorsal vertebra still bears the pression bordered dorsally and ventrally by a thin ribs articulated to its transverse processes (Fig. 1; ridge (see Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.44). Thus, the Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.41). Another dorsal identification as a left hemipelvis in lateral view is vertebra occurs close to caudal vertebrae on frag- supported mainly by its proximity to elements of ment IV. Two further distal dorsal ribs are located the left hind limb. Measuring the height of the is- close to the isolated wing phalanx on fragment II chiopubic plate from just dorsal to the dorsocau- and a rib shaft crosses the remains of the brain- dal process of the ischium (see Dalla Vecchia 2014: case. Both proximal (more robust and with large figs 4.1.58 and 72) to the ventralmost point of the tubercula and capitula) and distal (filiform, with plate (excluding the ventral process of the ischium), slender tubercula and a hint of capitula or even the height/length ratio of the ischiopubic plate is holocephalous; cf. Wild 1979: pl. 1) are preserved. 0.85. Considering the caudal process as beginning At least 18 over a total of a possible 24 dorsal ribs at the level of the small dorsocaudal process of the (Wild 1979) occur in this specimen (i.e. 75% of the ischium, the ratio between the height of the distal total) and most are grouped close to humeri and side of the caudal process and the length of the en- scapulocoracoids like in their original anatomical tire caudal process is 1.40 and the ratio between the position. The dorsal vertebrae and ribs have been height of the distal side of the caudal process and described and figured in Dalla Vecchia (2014). the total height of the ischium (excluding its ventral There are at least ten caudal vertebrae and process) is 0.71. three isolated hemapophyses; four caudals are on Along the ventral margin of the ischium and fragment IV and six are on fragment III (Fig. 1). approximately corresponding to the beginning of Caudal vertebrae and hemapophyses have been the caudal process as defined above, there is a large described and figured in Wellnhofer (2003: figs 9b and ventrally directed triangular process (see Dalla and 10) and Dalla Vecchia (2014: figs 4.1.38). Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.44). The surface of the pelvic plate has a grainy Gastralia aspect like that of the scapulocoracoid; together Gastralia are rare and fragmentary in BSP with the lack of fusion of the pelvic plate to the 1994 I 51, with the exception of an element pre- sacrum, it provides further evidence of immaturity served close to and parallel with the metapodial of BSP 1994 I 51. A (see below; Fig. 11A). This gastrale has an ex- panded and fan-like but asymmetrical and pointed Limb bones proximal portion (Fig. 11C) and a thin shaft taper- Radius and ulna. Wellhofer (2003: 15) wrote ing distally to a point; it seems to be the unfused that “fragments of other long bones [of the wing half of a V-shaped median gastrale (Wellnhofer skeleton, excluding left humerus and right wing 1975a: fig. 8h; Wild 1979: pl. 2 and fig. 13; Bennett phalanx 1] are probably those of radius and ulna, 2001: 67). and of some distal wing phalanges”. The distal wing Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 439 phalanges are two incomplete bones on fragment fragment IV (distal part; Figs 1 and 9) is evidently a IV identified as wing phalanges 3 and 4 (Wellhofer wing phalanx. Only a part of the proximal extremity 2003: 16; see below). Only three fragmentary long of this wing phalanx is preserved as bone, whereas bones in BSP 1994 I 51 can be candidates for a radius the rest of the element is represented by an impres- or ulna (Fig. 1). One of these (Fig. 8A) overlaps the sion. The proximal end of the phalanx is damaged left tibiotarsus at the boundary between fragments and the impression of the distal end is missing; III and IV; the second (Fig. 8B) is preserved isolated furthermore, part of the impression at mid-shaft is at the extremity of fragment II; and the third (Fig. missing because of the fracture between fragments 8C) is isolated on fragment IV, to the left of the III and IV. The preserved portion of this wing pha- humeri in Figure 1. Only the last could be identified lanx is ca. 55 mm long. The proximal part is ex- as a radius or ulna. Its distal portion is mostly pre- panded and slightly recurved; the shaft is straight served as bone, whereas the proximal third is repre- and tapers slightly distally. This wing phalanx is sented only by the impression of the bone. This ele- much thinner than wing phalanx 1 and comparison ment appears to be relatively stout, but its proximal with wing phalanges of other Triassic pterosaurs extremity is not clearly identifiable and the bone suggests it is a wing phalanx 3 (Wild 1979: pl. 14; could be slightly longer than shown in Figure 8C. Padian 1980: fig. 2; Wild 1994: figs 2 and 4; Stecher The preserved part is ca. 38 mm long. The shaft is 2008: fig. 5; Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.20, 4.1.96 straight, with the minimum width at mid-shaft, and and 97A, 4.1.119, 4.1.132A, 4.1.164, 4.2.3, 4.2.5 and slightly expands at the extremities. The distal end 4.2.12; and 2019: fig. 22). It is probably the right of the bone has a rounded and nearly symmetrical wing phalanx 3 because of its association and spa- outline. This is probably an ulna, because the ulna is tial relationship with the right wing phalanx 1 and more robust than the radius, it has a more expand- the other wing phalanges (Fig. 9). As the preserved ed proximal part, and its distal expansion is nearly portion is longer than the entire wing phalanx 1, symmetrical in early pterosaurs, whereas that of the wing phalanx 3 is longer than wing phalanx1 in BSP radius is markedly asymmetrical with a large cranial 1994 I 51, as in Preondactylus buffarinii, Peteinosaurus tubercle (Wild 1975: figs 3-4; Sangster 2003: fig. 3.7; zambellii, MCSNB 8950, 'Raeticodactylus' filisurensis Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.93 and 4.1.113C, 2018: and Seazzadactylus venieri and unlike Carniadactylus fig. 4). However, the right wing phalanx 1 of BSP rosenfeldi and Campylognathoides spp. (Dalla Vecchia 1994 I 51 also has a nearly symmetrical distal end 2014: 306, 2019: tab. S1). (Fig. 8D). The presence of a proximal syncarpal Between the right wing phalanges 1 and 3, close to the bone under examination (Fig. 8C) and there is a long bone (Figs 8A and 9) in the position the probable presence of the left wing phalanx 1 that would be occupied by the right wing phalanx elsewhere on the block (Figs 1 and 8B) supports its 2, if the right wing digit is only slightly disarticu- identification as an ulna rather than a wing phalanx. lated (cf. Stecher 2008: fig. 5; Dalla Vecchia 2009a: Carpus. The small bone preserved close to the fig. 1, 2019: fig. 1). This bone is incomplete distally; distal end of the ulna (Fig. 8C) shows two elliptical the preserved part is 37.5 mm long. The proximal depressions that resemble the ulnar and radial facets portion of the bone is slightly flared in dorsoven- on the proximal side of the proximal syncarpal (cf. tral view as is typical of the wing phalanges and Wellnhofer 1975a: fig. 12b-e). Therefore, it is identi- bears a concave proximal articular facet. The shaft fied here as the proximal syncarpal in proximal view. is straight and tapers slightly distally, but it starts This bone is comparatively small (3.7 mm) and may expanding again at the distal end of the preserved be incomplete. portion. This long bone is not an ulna or radius be- cause of the flared extremity and the tapering shaft. Wing phalanges. Wellnhofer (2003: 16) identi- It is less robust than wing phalanx 1 and more ro- fied a wing phalanx 3 and a wing phalanx 4 in frag- bust than wing phalanx 3, therefore it is plausibly ment IV, but it is unclear to which of the several the right wing phalanx 2. long bones clustered around the boundary between The long bone that is preserved isolated at fragments III and IV (Fig. 9) he referred to. the extremity of fragment II (Fig. 8B) is also a wing A long, slender and straight bone preserved phalanx. It is incomplete proximally and is mostly partly on fragment III (proximal part) and partly on represented by the impression of the bone. The pre- 440 Dalla Vecchia F.M. Fig. 8 - Wing phalanges, ulna and proximal syncarpal of the holotype of Austriadraco dal- lavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51). A) The right wing phalanx 2, preserved on fragment III; B) the left wing phalanx 1, fragment II; C) the ulna with the proximal syncarpal, frag- ment IV; D) the right wing phalanx 1, fragment IV; E) the right wing phalanx 4, fragment IV. Abbreviations: de, distal extremity; pe, pro- ximal extremity; psc, proxi- mal syncarpal; rf, radial facet of the proximal syncarpal; uf, ulnar facet of the proxi- mal syncarpal. The scale bars equal 10 mm. served part is 46.5 mm long. Its distal end is expand- The exposed portion is straight and its proximal ex- ed and slightly asymmetrical. The shaft is narrower tremity is flared in dorsoventral view and markedly at mid-shaft, expands toward the extremities and is asymmetrical. Its proximal face bears a depressed slightly recurved. Size, robustness, curvature and the articular facet, which suggests this is the smallest slightly asymmetrical distal expansion suggest that it wing phalanx rather than a metapodial. is the left wing phalanx 1 (cf. Figs 8B and D). Femur. The impression of a femur (Fig. 10) Wing phalanx 4 is usually the shortest and crosses the proximal part of left tibiotarsus along most gracile of the wing phalanges (Dalla Vecchia the margin of fragment IV near the pelvic plate 2014: 306). The purported wing phalanx 4 identified (Figs 1 and 9). If it is the left femur, as its association by Wellnhofer (2003) is probably a bone still cov- with the tibiotarsus and the pelvic plate suggests, it ered by matrix in its distal part (Figs 8E and 9-10). was exposed in caudal view and that preserved is Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 441 Fig. 9 - Limb bones of the holotype of Austriadraco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51) along the boundary between frag- ments IV and III. Abbre- viations: ?, indeterminate skeletal element; fe, femur; fi, fibula; g, gastrale; l., left; mdt, medial distal tarsal; mtp, metapodial; pp, pelvic plate; pphV-2, pedal phalanx V-2; r., right; ti, tibiotarsus; wph1-4, wing phalanges 1–4. The better preserved metapodials are indicated with capital letters. The me- tapodial D is located 32.5 mm from metapodial B (see Figure 1); this distance was shortened in the figure for graphic reasons. The scale bar equals 10 mm. the impression of its cranial side. The impression hind limb and wing finger bones located along the is nearly complete, lacking just the distal extremity boundary between fragments III and IV (Figs 9 of the distal condyles, and is 37.5 mm long. The and 11A-F) could be metapodials or pedal phalan- femur is sigmoid and the caput femoris is bent at ges V-1 and 2 (the latter have a metapodial habitus 130°-135° as that of the holotype of Preondactylus in Triassic pterosaurs; Dalla Vecchia 2014). One buffarinii (see Dalla Vecchia 2014). further incomplete metapodial is preserved close Tibiotarsus and fibula. Neither Wellnhofer to the right tibia (Figs 1 and 11G). Most of these (2003) nor Kellner (2015) reported the coosified are incompletely preserved or are still partly cov- left tibiotarsus and fibula, which are preserved part- ered by rock. The better preserved of these bones ly on fragment IV and partly on fragment III (Figs have been arbitrarily indicated with a capital letter in 1 and 9-10). Only portions of the distal half of this Figure 9 to ease their description. The presence of composite element and a segment of the shaft of mixed long bones from one hind limb and one fore- the fibula are preserved as bone, whereas the rest is limb in the cluster and the high number of poten- represented by the imprint of the bone. No further tial metapodials (one pes had four elongated meta- features can be observed with respect to the right podials and two pedal phalanges in digit V) would element, which is preserved on fragment II (Fig. 1). suggest a mixture of manual and pedal metapodials. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish between Distal tarsals, metapodials and phalanges of pedal disarticulated metacarpals and metatarsals, mainly digit V. At least 11 scattered, thin and long skele- when their extremities are not preserved and their tal elements occurring in the cluster of pelvic, total length is unknown. 442 Dalla Vecchia F.M. The metapodials preserving their complete outline (metapodials A-D in Fig. 9) have an expand- ed proximal portion, a slender shaft that tapers up to the middle and then gradually expands toward a distal articular region that is moderately enlarged. Metapodial A (Fig. 11A) is completely preserved as bone and is slightly recurved. It is 21 mm long. Its proximal portion is expanded and club-like and still contacts a small flat bone with an oval outline (Fig. 11A-B). The distal end of this metapodial bears a bicondylar ginglymus with small and crushed con- dyles (Fig. 11C). Metapodial B (Fig. 11D) is also completely preserved as bone and is 19 mm long. Its proximal portion is expanded fan-like and re- curved, whereas the shaft is straight. The distal por- tion of metapodial C is preserved as an impression of the bone (Fig. 11E). This metapodial is recurved and its proximal portion is expanded fan-like, like that of metapodial B. Its total length is 20.5 mm. Metapodial D (Fig. 11F) lacks its proximal portion, which is represented by the impression of the bone. It is straight and its proximal and distal extremities (Fig. 11H) appear to be similar to those of metapo- dial A. Its total length is 18 mm, thus it is smaller than metapodials A-C. The metapodial preserved near the right tib- iotarsus (Fig. 11G) lacks its proximal portion. The preserved part is also 19 mm long. It is straight and its distal extremity (Fig. 11J) is similar to that of metapodial D. Because of the shape of its proximal por- Fig. 10 - Left femur and other limb bones of the holotype of Austria- tion and shaft curvature, metapodial A resembles draco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51). Abbreviations: cf, caput femoris; fe, femur; fi, fibula; g, gastrale; l., left; mdt, medial the metatarsal of Dimorphodon macronyx figured by distal tarsal; mtp, metapodial; mtp A, metapodial A (pos- Padian (1983: fig. 14a), which he identified as meta- sibly metatarsal II); pphV-2, pedal phalanx V-2; r., right; ti, tarsal II. For the same reason, however, it is also tibiotarsus; wph3, wing phalanx 3. Scale bar equals 10 mm. similar to metatarsal I of specimen MCSNB 3359 (Dalla Vecchia 2014: fig. 4.1.69A-B) and MCSNB None of the bones under examination can 3496 (Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.73) of Peteino- be unequivocally identified as phalanges of pedal saurus zambellii and to metatarsal I of Carniadactylus digit V (cf. Padian 1983: fig. 22; Sangster 2003: fig. rosenfeldi holotype (see Dalla Vecchia 2009a: fig. 9, 3.22; Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs 4.1.69A, 97B-C, 101 2014: fig. 4.1.101A and C). The small oval bone con- and 130), except a thin and straight element close to tacting metapodial A is most probably a mesopodial the impression of wing phalanx 3 (Figs 9-10) which element. Two mesopodials contact the metatarsals could be a pedal phalanx V-2. This bone lacks one in pterosaurs: the lateral and the medial distal tarsals. extremity and is slightly constricted at mid-shaft; the The lateral distal tarsal has a rectangular outline and preserved extremity is blunt and slightly expanded. is constricted in the middle in proximal and distal Although this element is as thin and straight as a views (Padian 1983: fig. 20; Dalla Vecchia 2014: figs gastrale, gastralia are usually pointed at both ex- 4.1.69B and 70); instead, the medial distal tarsal is flat tremities (Wellnhofer 1975a: fig. 8h; Wild 1979: pl. and roughly quadrangular in the same views (Padian 2 and fig. 13). 1983: fig. 12d). Metatarsal I articulates on the medial Revision of the pterosaur Austriadraco dallavecchiai 443 Fig. 11 - Metapodials of the holotype of Austriadraco dallavecchiai (BSP 1994 I 51). A) Meta- podial A (possibly metatarsal II); B) metapodial A, detail of the proximal portion with the medial distal tarsal; C) metapodial A, detail of the distal end; D) metapo- dial B, possibly metatarsal I; E) metapodial C, possibly metatarsal III; F) metapodial D, possibly metatarsal IV; G) the metapodial near the right tibiotarsus, possibly also a metatarsal II or III; H) metapodial D, detail of the distal end; I) metapodial near the right tibiotarsus, detail of the distal end. Ab- breviations: g, gastrale; mdt, medial distal tarsal. Scale bars equal 5 mm. distal tarsal, as does metatarsal II. This mesopodial than metatarsals II and III. In the pedes of MFSN element is plausibly a medial distal tarsal, probably 1797, the metatarsals (mt) are longer than the meta- showing its proximal aspect, as only a large shallow carpals (mc): mcI-III are 13.7, 17.2 and 19.2 mm depression can be seen instead of the three facets long, while mt I-IV are 20.5, 22, 21 and 19.5 mm for metatarsals I-III (Padian 1983: fig. 20). There- long, respectively. MFSN 1797 is approximately fore, metapodial A may be a metatarsal I or II. the same size or slightly larger than BSP 1994 I 51 Metapodials B-C are close to the left tibia and (Dalla Vecchia 2014: tab. 4.1.6). In the holotype of may belong to the disarticulated left pes; metapodi- Seazzadactylus venieri (MFSN 21545), which is prob- al D may be from the same pes (Fig. 9). Metatarsals ably slightly larger than BSP 1994 I 51 (humerus in IV