Azhdarcho

The fossil remains of Azhdarcho were recovered in the Kyzyl Kum desert (from the Taykarshinskaya unit of the Bissekty Formation) by Lev A. Nesov during expeditions to Central Asia in 1974–1981.

[3] In his description of the type specimen of Azhdarcho lancicollis, Nesov noted its distinctive neck vertebrae, which are extremely elongated and round in cross section at mid-length.

He also suggested that similar, thin-walled pterosaur bones from the Lance Formation of Wyoming could be assigned to a species of Azhdarcho, using this as evidence of commonalities between the fauna of Late Cretaceous central Asia and western North America.

[5] Thalassodromeus sethi Tupuxuara leonardii Tupuxuara longicristatus Domeykodactylus ceciliae Dsungaripterus weii Noripterus complicidens Noripterus parvus Eoazhdarcho liaoxiensis Shenzhoupterus chaoyangensis Chaoyangopterus zhangi Jidapterus edentus Radiodactylus langstoni Azhdarcho lancicollis Wellnhopterus brevirostris (TMM 42489) Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis Arambourgiania philadelphiae Quetzalcoatlus northropi Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni In the original description of Azhdarcho, Nesov noted that because of the way the vertebrae articulated, the pterosaur would have had very limited flexibility in the neck.

Nesov suggested that pterosaurs like Azhdarcho may have fed in a manner similar to the modern skimmer, with their long necks allowing them to scoop prey from the water's surface and small depths without needing to dive.

Neck vertebrae (third from the bottom) compared to those of other Azhdarchids
Speculative reconstruction of a pair of Azhdarcho flying over a calm lake in the early morning.