Sinomacrops

Sinomacrops is a genus of extinct anurognathid pterosaur from the Middle to Late Jurassic periods of what is now the Daohugou Beds of the Tiaojishan Formation in Mutoudeng, Qinglong County of the Hebei province.

The name Sinomacrops is in reference to both the large eyes of and the broad faces that are typical of the family Anurognathidae, as well as to the Chinese origin of the animal.

A strange patch of soft tissue lateral (to the side) to the left tibiotarsus suggests that the brachiopatagium ("arm-membrane") extended to the rear onto the distal part of the lower leg.

A brachiopatagium extending to the rear of the lower leg is also present in the species Jeholopterus ningchengensis, which is a close relative of Sinomacrops, this feature also appears in all pterosaurs in general.

[1] Below is a cladogram representing their phylogenetic analysis: "Dimorphodon" weintraubi Sinomacrops bondei Batrachognathus volans Dendrorhynchoides curvidentatus Luopterus mutoudengensis Jeholopterus ningchengensis Anurognathus ammoni Vesperopterylus lamadongensis

Fossil (A) and schematic drawing (B) of the right foot of Sinomacrops