07078 - Museum Grade 3.68 Inch Alanqa saharica Cretaceous Azhdarchid Pterosaur Dentary Bone

This is one of the most unique and extraordinary specimens of our Pterosaurs collection. It is the dentary bone of a strange and little-known pterosaur species of the North African Cretaceous. This type of fossils are extremely rare. In fact, similar specimens are impossible to find anywhere in the market. 

Its morphology resembles very much that of the dentition rests published recently by Ibrahim et al. (2010), where a new genus and species of Pterosaur belonging to the Azhdarchidae family is described. It is Alanqa saharica (Holotype specimen FSAC-KK 26).

A New Pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) fromthe Upper Cretaceous of Morocco

This new and recent species is only known by a few rests, mainly belonging to the mandibular symphysis. This new taxon is distinguished from other azhdarchids by a remarkably straight, elongate, lance-shaped mandibular symphysis that bears a pronounced dorsal eminence near the posterior end of its dorsal (occlusal) surface. (Ibrahim et al., A new pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchidae) from the Upper Cretaceous of Morocco. 2010).

An unusual modification of the jaws in cf. Alanqa, a mid-Cretaceous azhdarchid pterosaur from the Kem Kem beds of Morocco

This specimen is absolutely unique and worthy of new comparative studies with the already published rests. Its discovery was made in the most basal part of the stratigraphic levels corresponding to the red sandstones of the upper member of the Ifezouane Formation.

It has some fractures that have been glued and tiny filled. In the occlusion area still numerous sensory pits along both sides and within the tongue groove can be observed.
Without doubt, this piece deserves its exhibition in any scientific collection or museum exhibition.