Vesperopterylus

Vesperopterylus (meaning "dusk wing") is a genus of anurognathid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Jiufotang Formation of China, the geologically youngest member of its group. Notably, Vesperopterylus appears to have a reversed first toe, which would have been suited for gripping; it was likely arboreal, climbing or clinging to tree branches with curved, sharp claws. It also has a relatively short tail, in contrast with its tailless (Jeholopterus) and long-tailed (Dendrorhynchoides) relatives. It was first described and named by Lü Junchang et al. While the original spelling of the name was Versperopterylus, this was a typo, and was emended by the authors in accordance with the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature.^[1]

Vesperopterylus Temporal range: Aptian, 122.1 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Life reconstruction of Vesperopterylus on a tree branch
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Order:	†Pterosauria
Family:	†Anurognathidae
Subfamily:	†Anurognathinae
Genus:	†Vesperopterylus Lü et al., 2017
Type species
†Vesperopterylus lamadongensis Lü et al., 2017

Classification

Variation in anurognathid jaw shape, notice Vesperopterylus (D)

In 2021, a phylogenetic analysis conducted by Xuefang Wei and colleagues recovered Vesperopterylus within the subfamily Anurognathinae, a subfamily within the family Anurognathidae. Within the subfamily, Vesperopterylus was recovered in a derived position, sister taxon to Anurognathus.^[2] Below is a cladogram representing their phylogenetic analysis:

Anurognathidae	"Dimorphodon" weintraubi Batrachognathinae Sinomacrops bondei Batrachognathus volans Anurognathinae Dendrorhynchoides curvidentatus Luopterus mutoudengensis Jeholopterus ningchengensis Anurognathus ammoni Vesperopterylus lamadongensis