Garudapterus buffetauti
- 演化之聲
- Mar 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 9
Age
Cretaceous（Hauterivian-Barremian）
129 Ma
Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Pterosauria
Family: Ctenochasmatidae
Genus: Garudapterus
Species: Garudapterus buffetauti
Morphological description
The rostrum of Garudapterus buffetauti is elongated and slender, with its anterior tip expanded into a spatulate shape. The alveoli are prominently developed and oriented laterally, bearing numerous teeth. A pair of grooves is present on both sides of the palatal surface, representing an autapomorphic feature of this clade.
Unlike many closely related taxa in which the rostrum is widest at the anterior tip, the rostrum of Garudapterus buffetauti reaches its greatest width at the मध्य region, resulting in an overall diamond-shaped outline.
The teeth exhibit a sub-elliptical cross-section, and each crown is covered by a smooth enamel surface.
Etymology
The generic name Garudapterus combines "Garuda", the divine bird-like figure from Hindu and Buddhist traditions, with the Latinized Greek term pteron, meaning "wing".
The specific name honors the French palaeontologist Éric Buffetaut in recognition of his contributions to palaeontological research collaboration between France and Thailand.
Biological description
Fossils of Garudapterus buffetauti were discovered in 2023 from the Phra Prong locality in Sa Kaeo Province, eastern Thailand, within the Phanom Dong Rak mountain range. The material includes a partial skull and five teeth (specimen number PRC 185–190), currently housed at the Palaeontological Research and Education Centre of Mahasarakham University.
This species represents the first formally described pterosaur from Thailand and, more broadly, Southeast Asia, providing important insights into the geographic distribution of pterosaurs.
Phylogenetic analysis places Garudapterus buffetauti within the subfamily Gnathosaurinae of the family Ctenochasmatidae. It is most closely related to Lusognathus, and both share laterally oriented alveoli.
The fossil-bearing strata consist of three superimposed layers of sandstone and siltstone, with the specimen recovered from the upper portion of the second layer. Although detailed geological studies of the locality remain limited, comparisons with associated bivalve fossils and equivalent faunas from other regions suggest an age ranging from the Hauterivian to Barremian stages of the Early Cretaceous.
The depositional environment is interpreted as a slow-flowing river system. Additional fossil remains from the site include dinosaurs, cartilaginous fishes, actinopterygians, crocodyliforms, and turtles. However, most of these fossils are fragmentary or isolated, often represented only by teeth, and thus have not yet been formally described or assigned to specific taxa.
（Author: Bai Leng）
Reference
Manitkoon, S., Pêgas, R. V., Nonsrirach, T., Warapeang, P., Lauprasert, K., Deesri, U., Tumpeesuwan, S., Wongko, K., Zhou, X. (2025). First gnathosaurine (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Early Cretaceous of eastern Thailand. Cretaceous Research.
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