Pterodaustro

Pterodaustro is an extinct genus of ctenochasmatid pterosaur that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 120 million years ago. Its fossils have been found in the Lagarcito Formation of Argentina. The name Pterodaustro means "wing of the south".

Pterodaustro was a relatively small pterosaur, with a wingspan estimated to be around 1.5 meters (5 feet). Its most distinctive feature was its bizarre feeding apparatus. It possessed hundreds of fine, comb-like bristles lining its lower jaw, which were adapted for filter-feeding. It is thought that Pterodaustro would have sieved small organisms like crustaceans and plankton from shallow water.

The skull of Pterodaustro was elongated and narrow, with a long snout. The bristles extended along much of the length of the lower jaw. Unlike many other pterosaurs, Pterodaustro had a relatively reduced crest or lacked one altogether, though some specimens show a small, bony protuberance.

Fossil evidence suggests that Pterodaustro was a gregarious animal, with multiple individuals found together in some fossil sites. This indicates they may have lived in flocks or colonies. Its discovery has provided valuable insights into the diversity of feeding strategies among pterosaurs during the Mesozoic Era.