Re: (Fwd) Seeking Information on Pterodactyl Species (posted for V.Pendred)

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From: "Virginia PENDRED (Geology)" <PENDREDV@geol.port.ac.uk>
To: paleonet-owner@nhm.ac.uk
Date:          Thu, 9 Nov 1995 13:39:31 GMT
Subject:       Re: (Fwd) Seeking Information on Pterodactyl Species
CC: dgonzalez@kraft.com
Priority: normal
Status: O

> From: "Gonzalez, Dave J.  (MS Mail)" <dgonzalez@kraft.com>
> To: University of Illinois/Chicago <plotnick>
> Subject: Seeking Information on Pterodactyl Species
> Date: Mon, 06 Nov 95 12:33:00 PST
>
>
> I'm a member of a literary circle that examines the works of Sir Arthur
> Conan Doyle and I've been elected to research some vague information that
> we've received.  We've heard that a species of pterodactyl has recently been
> uncovered and has been given the name "Arthurdactylus conan-doylei" in honor
> of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's novel titled "The Lost World."
>
> As I wasn't sure where to go to research this topic, I searched the Web.  I
> didn't find any specific information on this species, but I found your name
> as a possible source of information.  Can you tell me, or direct me to any
> available source information, about this species?  Does it in fact exist?
>  What are its characteristics?
>
> Thank you for your time.
> Dave Gonzalez

The species referred to was named by Dr David Martill (University of
Portsmouth, UK) and Dr Dino Frey (Nat. Hist. Museum in Karlsruhe,
Germany) in celebration of "New World" as stated. The idea was to
honour the fact that Conan Doyle was the first to popularise
pterodactyls in the afore mentioned book.
The specimen was found at Shapada Do Araripe in northeastern Brazil,
which resembled Conan Doyle's mythical south American Jungle. It was
discovered by peasants who make a living digging in the area and
selling their finds to traders in Rio de Janeiro. It has a wing span
of six metres and is currently housed by the Museum at Karlsruhe.
Dr Martill is presently in Brazil for a month due back 4th December.
His email address is Martilld@geol.port.ac.uk

HOPE THIS IS OF USE.

GIA PENDRED