Alanqa

Alanqa is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North Africa. The type species, Alanqa saharica, is known from fragmentary fossil material discovered in Morocco, including parts of the jaw and other remains that indicate a large, long-necked flying reptile. The fossils were recovered from sedimentary deposits associated with the Sahara region.

The name Alanqa derives from the Arabic mythological creature Al-Anqa, a giant bird in folklore, while saharica indicates the Sahara. As an azhdarchid, Alanqa belonged to a group of late Cretaceous pterosaurs characterized by long necks and often edentulous beaks, many of which were among the larger flying reptiles of their ecosystems.

Anatomically, the available material supports placement within Azhdarchidae, though the fragmentary remains limit detailed comparisons. Alanqa is interpreted as a relatively large member of its clade, consistent with the azhdarchid tendency toward sizeable body plans in the Late Cretaceous. The morphology aligns with a lifestyle of flight and terrestrial foraging, with long limbs and neck adapted for scanning wide environments.

Paleoecologically, Alanqa contributes to the understanding of pterosaur diversity in Africa during the mid to late Cretaceous and helps illuminate the distribution of azhdarchids across Gondwanan landmasses. The taxon is currently represented only by fragmentary material, and no additional species have been assigned to the genus. Further discoveries would help clarify its precise size, affinities within Azhdarchidae, and ecological role.