Abstract

The discovery of a left scapula and coracoid (MBLUZ P-911) representing the first evidence of a pterosaur from Venezuela is reported here. The material comes from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Apón Formation, in the northwestern part of the country. In MBLUZ P-911 the scapula is significantly smaller than the coracoid, a synapomorphy of the Pteranodontoidea, according to Kellner. The coracoid of the Venezuelan specimen is more elongated and gracile than those of Istiodactylus and Pteranodon, and also lacks the ventromedial coracoidal flange present in the latter. Overall MBLUZ P-911 is very similar to the scapulocoracoid of the Anhangueridae, including the presence of a longitudinal ridge on the medial surface of the coracoid and a comparatively short scapula, and is therefore tentatively referred to this taxon. This occurrence extends the pterosaur record to the northern part of the South American portion of Gondwana.