Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus 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 : 44-46

Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus Seeley, 1870 (nomen dubium) Fig. 18A-D

"Ptenodactylus" enchorhynchus Seeley: Seeley 1869: p. xvi [disclaimed]

Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus Seeley: Seeley 1870: p. 123

Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus Seeley: Hooley 1914: p. 535

Anhanguera cuvieri (Bowerbank): Unwin 2001: table 1

Holotype.

CAMSM B 54444, anterior portion of the rostrum ( Fig. 18A-D ).

Type locality.

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England.

Type horizon.

Cambridge Greensand (Cenomanian; fossils Albian in age).

Description.

CAMSM B 54444 is a fragment of the anterior portion of the premaxillae and maxillae, including three pairs of alveoli. The first pair of alveoli is located anteriorly, separated by a thin wall of bone from the second pair. The spacing between the second and third pairs is larger but still smaller than the diameter of the alveoli. Such spacing is common within species of the Ornithocheirus complex which share dorsal curvature of the palate, as is in the present specimen.

Seeley (1870) noted that it was similar to Ornithocheirus brachyrhinus but is larger, has a wider palate, lacks a palatal ridge, and has a larger first pair of alveoli. These size differences could be due to ontogeny, whereas the absence of a ridge could be explained by postmortem abrasion. Seeley (1870) compared it with Camposipterus(?) colorhinus , but pointed out that the latter has a diagnostic anterior depression, which is absent in CAMSM B 54444.

Unwin (2001) synonymized Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus with Anhanguera [= Cimoliopterus ] cuvieri. Both species are quite similar, sharing features such as the absence of a crest on the anterior end of the rostrum, the dorsally curved palate, the first pair of teeth facing anteriorly, and the absence of an anterior expansion. However, as in the case of Ornithocheirus brachyrhinus , the incompleteness of the holotype of Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus precludes it from being compared to Cimoliopterus cuvieri . Therefore, Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus is considered here a nomen dubium.

Remarks.

Hooley (1914) agreed with Seeley (1870) that this species should be referred to Ornithocheirus , and Wellnhofer (1978) provisionally followed him. Unwin (2001) synonymized it with Anhanguera [= Cimoliopterus ] cuvieri.

Figures

Figure 18. A-D Ornithocheirus enchorhynchus, holotype CAMSM B 54444 (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 eurygnathus, holotype CAMSM B 54644 (Albian, Cambridge Greensand), anterior part of the rostrum E? right lateral view F respective line drawing G? ventral view H respective line drawing. Abbreviations: m - maxillae, pm - premaxillae. Arrows and numbers indicate alveoli or teeth and their respective position. Scale bar = 10 mm.