Mar del Plata, Argentina

Chris Masnaghetti

Chris Masnaghetti was born in the austral summer of 1990 in a land that once was part of Southwestern Gondwana. An early interest in palaeontolgy combined with a natural tendency to draw since he was a child are to blame for his abundant, palaeontography-centered artwork. Chris graduated as Industrial Designer in 2013, although he is currently working as 3D modeler and illustrator.

Website

Illustrations

12 genera

Aerotitan
"Titan" though its name might be, this pterosaur was hardly impressive in terms of size. But it is the first-known South American azhdarchid, and this in itself makes it a find of massive importance.
Wingspan 5 m
Angustinaripterus
We don't often think of pterosaurs when we hear of China, but the country has revealed some interesting as well as relatively ordinary finds. One of these was Angustinaripterus, the quintessential Jurassic flier.
Wingspan 1.6 m
Campylognathoides
It had to go through a rather confusing taxonomic history for a while but Campylognathoides, a long-winged aerial hunter, managed to pull through to become a unique early pterosaur.
Wingspan 1.8 m
Ctenochasma
This German flier was sometimes no bigger than today's smaller birds. Its main claim to fame though, are its teeth, which had evolved into bristles for filtering tiny plankton out of the lagoons.
Wingspan 70 cm
Cycnorhamphus
This was one of the weirdest and most specialized members of its family. It had a crest and wings, the usual pterosaur traits but also a pair of wickedly curved jaws that are still a mystery to many.
Wingspan 1.35 m
Eurazhdarcho
This man-sized azhdarchid was one of the smallest in its family and lived on an island of dwarf dinosaurs. It was still a fierce predator in its own right though, and not one a small animal would like to meet.
Wingspan 3 m
Nemicolopterus
Whether it is a baby of another pterosaur or an individual in its own right, Nemicolopterus is the smallest pterosaur yet found. It soared through the Chinese forests on narrow, long wings, powering its stout body like a fluffy little bullet.
Wingspan 10 cm
Preondactylus
Small and early, Preondactylus set the standard for almost all pterosaurs to come.
Wingspan 45 cm
Rhamphorhynchus
A very well-known pterosaur from Jurassic Germany, this small toothy fisherman is also known from some excellent remains preserved in marine limestone.
Wingspan 1.8 m
Sordes
The pterosaur that showed the world its true colors as a furry, warm-blooded flier, Sordes, Latin for the word "filth", is one of those rare Kazakhstan gems. But filthy, it certainly is not but instead a revolutionary. It hails from the unlikeliest of locations but was instrumental in understanding pterosaur life as a whole, and how it worked.
Wingspan 65 cm
Tapejara
This rather small pterosaur hails from Early Cretaceous Brazil, and made a small appearance in the 1999 BBC TV show 'Walking with Dinosaurs'. It is well known for having a rather small crest, unlike most of its family with impressive headgear. Its short jaws may have been used to crack fruits and nuts as well as tackle small animals.
Wingspan 1.5 m
Zhejiangopterus
One of the best preserved azhdarchids, Zhejiangopterus was also instrumental in heightening our understanding of these impressive animals.
Wingspan 3.5 m

Chris Masnaghetti

Illustrations

Aerotitan

Angustinaripterus

Campylognathoides

Ctenochasma

Cycnorhamphus

Eurazhdarcho

Nemicolopterus

Preondactylus

Rhamphorhynchus

Sordes

Tapejara

Zhejiangopterus

Pterosaurs: The Field Guide