Ornithocheirus carteri Seeley, 1870

Rodrigues, Taissa & Kellner, Alexander Wilhelm Armin, 2013, Taxonomic review of the Ornithocheirus complex (Pterosauria) from the Cretaceous of England, ZooKeys 308, pp. 1-112 : 42

Ornithocheirus carteri Seeley, 1870 (nomen dubium) Fig. 16E-H

Ornithocheirus carteri Seeley: Seeley 1869: p. xvi [disclaimed]

Ornithocheirus carteri Seeley: Seeley 1870: p. 128

Criorhynchus carteri (Seeley): Hooley 1914: p. 536

Criorhynchus simus (Owen): Wellnhofer 1978: p. 60

Ornithocheirus simus (Owen): Unwin 2001: table 1

Holotype.

CAMSM B 54437, anterior portion of the rostrum ( Fig. 16E-H ).

Type locality.

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

Type horizon.

Cambridge Greensand (Cenomanian; fossils Albian in age).

Description.

Seeley (1870) named this species based on some differences between CAMSM B 54437 and the holotype of Ornithocheirus simus . He noted that the rostrum is not as high and narrower; the lateral surfaces bear several longitudinal furrows, which he believed to be impressions of blood vessels; and the first pair of teeth are larger, more conical, circular, and separated by a large gap. Although the rostrum is not as tall as in Ornithocheirus simus , it is not possible to determine if this size difference is merely ontogenetic. However, the separation between the right and left teeth of the first pair of alveoli is larger than the holotype of Ornithocheirus simus . Therefore, we reject referring Ornithocheirus carteri to Ornithocheirus simus and consider it a nomen dubium.

Figures

Figure 16. A-D Ornithocheirus brachyrhinus, holotype CAMSM B 54443 (Albian, Cambridge Greensand), anterior part of the rostrum. A right lateral view B respective line drawing C ventral view D respective line drawing. E-H Ornithocheirus carteri, holotype CAMSM B 54437 (Albian, Cambridge Greensand), anterior part of the rostrum E anterior view F respective line drawing G left lateral view H respective line drawing. Abbreviations: m - maxillae, pm - premaxillae, prid - palatal ridge. Arrows and numbers indicate alveoli or teeth and their respective position. Scale bar = 10 mm.