Kingdom Animalia Superfamily Azhdarchoidea Scientific name Volgadraco Higher classification Azhdarchidae Order Pterosaurs | Suborder Pterodactyloidea Family Azhdarchidae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | |
Similar Pterosaurs, Azhdarchidae, Montanazhdarcho, Aralazhdarcho, Phosphatodraco | ||
Volgadraco ("Volga River dragon") is a genus of azhdarchid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of European Russia. It is known from lower beak (holotype SGU, no. 46/104a) and postcranial fragments from the early Campanian-age Rybushka Formation of Saratov, Russia. The size of this animal, and the development of blood supply in the lower jaw, are intermediate between older Santonian or Turonian azhdarchids like Azhdarcho and Bakonydraco and later Maastrichtian azhdarchids like Quetzalcoatlus. Volgadraco was described in 2008 by Averianov, Arkhangelsky, and Pervushov. The type species is V. bogolubovi, the specific name honouring Russian paleontologist Nikolai Nikolaevich Bogolubov. The authors consider the earlier named genus Bogolubovia to be a nomen dubium that in fact might be identical to Volgadraco.