Tapejaridae

Tapejaridae is a family of pterosaurs from the Early Cretaceous period, recognized for their distinctive cranial crests and broad, often toothless beaks. Members typically have relatively short snouts and large head ornaments, with crest shapes ranging from tall, forward-extending structures to elaborate shields atop the skull. This group is one of the early pterosaur lineages to show pronounced cranial display features, and their skulls are among the best known examples of ornamentation in fossil pterosaurs.

Fossils attributed to tapejarids have been found in South America and Asia, with notable genera originating in Brazil’s Santana and Caiuá Formations and in China’s Jiufotang and related beds. The Tapejaridae tempo spans roughly from about 125 to 100 million years ago, corresponding to the Aptian to Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous. The geographic spread implies a wide distribution in subtropical to tropical environments across both Gondwanan and Laurasian landmasses.

Anatomy and ecology within the group show variation in size, but many tapejarids were small to medium-sized flyers with wingspans ranging from about one to a few meters. The beaks are typically edentulous or nearly so, and the crests are interpreted as primarily display structures used in species recognition and mating. Diets remain debated; some researchers suggest frugivory or omnivory, while others propose insectivory or other small prey, with crest morphology reflecting social behavior rather than direct feeding function.

Taxonomically, Tapejaridae is placed within Pterosauria, commonly as part of the broader Azhdarchoidea, though relationships within the group are debated. Principal genera include Tapejara, Tupandactylus, Sinopterus, and Caiuajara.