Tupandactylus (meaning "Tupan finger", in reference to the Tupi thunder god) is a genus of tapejarid pterodactyloid pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation of Brazil. It is notable for its large cranial crest, composed partly of bone and partly of soft tissue. The genus Tupandactylus possibly contains 2 species, both bearing differently sized/shaped crests that may have been used to signal and display for other Tupandactylus, much as toucans use their bright bills to signal to one another. Tupandactylus crests consisted of a semicircular crest over the snout, and in the case of the type species T. imperator, a bony prong which extended back behind the head. A second species, T. navigans, lacked this prong, and had a much more vertical crest. Soft tissue impressions also show that the small bony crests were extended by a much larger structure made of a keratinous material. The complete crest of T. navigans rose in a sharp, sail-like "dome" high above the rest of the skull.
In April 2022, a study revealed that T. imperator has feathers near the base of the crest.
 |
Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Tupandactylus |
Games[]
Jurassic World: Alive[]
Tupandactylus is a Rare pterosaur in Jurassic World: Alive added in the 1.4.11 update on September 18, 2018. This is the first time it has appeared in the franchise.
Jurassic World: The Game[]
see Tupandactylus/JW: TG
Tupandactylus appears in Jurassic World: The Game as a tournament legendary creature.
Jurassic World Evolution 2[]
Tupandactylus is mentioned in the entry of Tapejara.
Jurassic World Play[]
Tupandactylus was added to Jurassic World Play during the Dino Trackers update.
Jurassic World Evolution 3[]
Tupandactylus is again mentioned in the database entry of Tapejara.
Toys[]
Jurassic World: Dino Trackers[]
Tupandactylus appears in the 2023 Jurassic World toyline "Dino Trackers", as part of the "Danger Pack" assortment. This was it's first time to be in the Jurassic Park toyline.
Trivia[]
- Tupandactylus is one of the few creatures that originated in Jurassic World: Alive, and was later added into Jurassic World: The Game that is not an exact replica of the Jurassic World: Alive version from levels 1-10.
- Strangely enough, the levels 11-20 model is more similar to the Jurassic World: Alive version.
