Helder da Rocha

August 2013

Ultra-light polystyrene reconstruction of a pterosaur skeleton

Tapejara wellnhoferi
for the Peirpolis Museum in Uberaba, MG, Brazil

Contents

Dimensions, components, materials 3

Specimens used as sources 6
Design, scaling and construction of individual bones 10
Construction details and techniques 48
Assembly and installation 51
About the museum & the artist 55
Acknowledgements 57
Publications used as sources 58

Dimensions
This replica is 25% larger than the specimen used as a size reference,
IMCF 1061 (Iwaki Museum, Japan), which is a juvenile specimen.
Dimensions of assembled pterosaur in flight position
Width (assembled wingspan): 180 cm
Length (beak to toetip): 100 cm
Height (skull height): 25 cm
Other dimensions
Wingspan (wing bones and carpals stacked in line): 200 cm
Length of body (beak to tail): 70 cm
Length of spine (atlas to tail): 50 cm

Components and weight

All the parts were made from Extruded Polystyrene (XPS): 2mm sheets
for most of the bones, and 20mm blocks for small bones and bone ends
Parts
Total number of individual parts created and used: 184
Fused with epoxy: 6 (quadratojugal,
lacrimal, postorbital)
Total number of separate pieces used
for assembly of final skeleton (attached
with silicone rubber): 178
Total weight
Individual bones: 300 g
After assembly (with silicone rubber): 350 g (estimated)
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XPS densities

Materials used

1. XPS Extruded Polystyrene. Mostly 2 mm and 30 mm sheets with densities of 25

to 45 g/m3 for constructing the bones (Depron, Pluma)
2. Foam glue (Polyvinyl acetate diluted in alcohol) (Acrilex, Corfix, Scotch)
3. Acrylic polymer emulsion (Modeling paste) (Acrilex or Corfix)
4. Used coffee powder for staining
5. Liquid epoxy resin (Bisfenol A) for protective coating (Sicomin, ACE or Redelease)
6. Quick dry transparent epoxy glue (Bisfenol F) for pasting (Loctite, Scotch or
Araldite)
7. 5mm rubber tube for the medulla.
8. Nylon fishing line (35kg resistance) (0.8mm)
for hanging.
9. General purpose transparent acetic silicone
rubber (Polystic)
10. Metal pins (for connecting bones).

XPS
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tion of a small portion of the lateral semicircular canal

suggests that this structure would have completely surrounded the flocculus.
Quadrate
The right quadrate is complete but lies unfused to the other
elements of the skull. The bone is formed by two branches,
orientated dorsoventrally and mediolaterally, and connected by a thin diagonal laminae of bone to give the
element an L-shaped appearance in its posterior aspect
(Fig. 2; plate 3). The dorsoventrally directed branch is 2.4
times the length of the horizontal branch; the dorsal termination of the former being smooth and well rounded in
posterior view and preserving an oval shaped cross section.
The ventrolateral margin of the bone forms the articular
facet for the mandible where a pronounced sulcus runs in
an anteromedial direction. A left quadrate of a comparable
size to that described above is also present in the concretion
but the vertical branch is broken only just dorsal to its base.

The mandible is edentulous and preserves a short symphysis only 44 mm in length, formed by the completely
co-ossified contralateral rami. The dorsal face of the
symphysis is transversely concave and is directed anteroventrally at an angle of 18, starting at a point 45 mm
posterior of the rostral tip (Fig. 2; plate 4B). The ventral
margin is almost straight but forms a sagittal crest reaching
its maximum depth at the symphysis. In its dorsal aspect
the bone appears as an elongate triangle, three times as
long as it is wide (Fig. 2; plate 4) while the posterior
section containing the articular facet is missing.

Sources: specimens

Cervical vertebrae
Four procoelous vertebra, identified as elements of the
cervical series, are observed in various states of preservation (Fig. 4). Two of these are attributed to the middle
cervical column (Fig. 4fo) while a third is identified as the
7th cervical. The remaining element represents the isolated
axis (Fig. 4ae).

1. SMNK PAL 1137 Tapejara wellnhoferi (Germany)

Used as a source for the metatarsals, tibiotarsi,
femora, radii, ulnae, humeri, carpals, finger nails,
sternum, pelvic girdle, neurocranium, and as a
first prototype of the cervical and dorsal
vertebrae (later improved with data from IMCF 1061).

!
Fig. 4 Cervical elements of Tapejara wellnhoferi, SMNK PAL 1137,
where: AE axis in lateral (A), anterior (B), posterior (C), dorsal
(D) and ventral view (E); FJ cervical vertebra in lateral (F), anterior
(G), posterior (H), dorsal (I) and ventral view (J); KO, cervical
vertebra in lateral (K), anterior (L), posterior (M), dorsal (N) and

ventral view (O); PT, 7th cervical vertebra in lateral (P), anterior
(Q), posterior (R), dorsal (S) and ventral view (T). f foramen, nc
neural canal, ns neural spine, pe postexapophysis, pre preexapophysis, pz postzygapophysis, prz prezygapophysis, vc vertebral condyle

2. AMNH 24440 Tapejara wellnhoferi (United States)

Used for the first skull prototype, the lacrimal
bone, post-orbital, rostrum and crest, and
for scaling the cervical vertebrae.

Sources: specimens
3. IMCF 1061 Tapejara wellnhoferi
Used as the main source for the rostrum,
mandible, quadrate, wing phalanges 1 to 3,
humeri, pteroids, occipital bone, neurocranium,
cervical vertebrae (second prototype), dorsal
vertebrae (second prototype).

!
4. MN 6595-V Tapejara wellnhoferi (holotype)
Used for reviewing the skull proportions.
(These images are protected by
copyright and I do not have
authorization to show them in
this presentation)

Sources: specimens
5. SMNK PAL 3986 Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for scaling wing bones against
the mandible.

!
6. MCT-1500-R Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for a first attempt at making the internal cranium and
occipital bone (I later replaced it with data from IMCF 1061).

!
7. SMNK PAL 3985 Tapejara wellnhoferi.
Used for scaling the size of the
sternum agains the humerus.

!
8. MN 6588-V Tapejaridae.
Used as a source for the pre-pubis.

Sources: specimens
9. IMCF 1502 Tupuxuara leonardii
Used as a source for the fourth wing phalanx and as a guide for the
scapulocoracoid (later replaced with better data from IMCF 1061); this
specimen was also used as an initial guide to the palate.

!
10. NSM-PV 19892 Anhanguera piscator
Used a source for the caudal vertebrae.

!
11. YPM 2546 Pteranodon longiceps
Used as a source for the shape of the sternal ribs, and as a guide to the
general aspect of the sacrum, fingers and toes.

!
12. Undescribed thalassodromid.
Images which were used to make the pelvic girdle in Tupuxuara were used
as a source to for the general aspect of the sacrum.

Scaling
Replica is 25% larger than
reference size of young
individual (data provided
by Brian Andreas)

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Bone construction
Fully documented at
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/imaginary-pterosaur-7-finished/

11

SMNK PAL 1137 limestone slab

Contains bones of two (or more) pterosaurs (from Eck et al 2011)
Also used as one of the sources to scale the bones proportionally

12

SMNK PAL 1137 limestone slab

Approximate reconstruction (using bones of one pterosaur)

13

Skull (5 parts, 90g)

1. Frontal skull (1 part - rostrum/palate/occipital + 6 fused bones)
fused with epoxy: 2 quadratojugal + 2 lacrimal + 2 postorbital

2. Neurocranium (1 part)
3. Mandible (1 part)
4. Quadrates (2 parts)

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Initial work
on the skull

2mm sheets of XPS

Prototype based on incomplete photos of Iwaki specimen
Projections based on drawings of the AMNH specimen (from
Wellnhofer & Kellner 1991, The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi)
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Rostrum, crest, palate

Mostly based on AMNH 24440

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Frontal skull: final

32.5 x 18.5 x 6.5 cm & 42 g

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/05/tapejara-skull-part-3-neurocranium-quadrate-lacrimal/
17

Mandible

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/tapejara-skull-part-2-mandible-and-crest/
18

Mandible: final
19 x 6 x 4.5 cm &10 g

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Neurocranium version 1
replica of SMNK PAL 1137

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/06/unfinished-tapejara-skull/
20

Neurocranium version 2
beyond SMNK PAL 1137
Improved with ICMF 1061 sources

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/24/tapejaras-neurocranium-revisited/
21

Neurocranium: final
15.5 x 7 x 6 cm & 35 g

22

Quadrates
7 x 2.5 cm & < 3 g (both)

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Skull assembly

24

Spine (31 parts, 85g)

1. Atlas/axis cervical (1 part) 2.3 x 2.5 x 2.9 cm, 3 g

2. Cervicals 3 to 7 (5 parts) 4.7 x 2.9 x 2.7 cm (avg) , 5 g (each), 25 g (all)
3. Cervicals 8 and 9 (2 parts) 2.3 x 3.6 x 2.9 cm (avg), 3 g (each), 6 g (both)
4. Dorsal vertebrae (12 parts) 1.5 x 4.2 x 3.5 cm (avg), 3 g (each), 35 g (all)
5. Sacrum (1 part) 9 x 4.6 x 3.5 cm, 12 g
6. Caudal vertebrae (10 parts) 9 cm (full tail), < 3 g (all)
25

Cervical vertebrae

Sources: 4 specimens (SMNK, IMCF

Tapejara and Tupuxuara, AMNH)
26

Cervical vertebrae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/15/tapejara-cervical-vertebrae/
27

Dorsal vertebrae

28

Dorsal vertebrae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/tapejara-the-notarium-thoracic-vertebrae/
29

Sacrum

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/
Based on Thalassodromid sources (no Tapejara source available)

30

Tail
From Anhanguera piscator (Kellner & Tomida 2000)
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-caudal-vertebrae/

31

Wings and fingers (48 parts, 60g)

Humerus (2 parts), 11 cm, 10 g (both)

Wing (8 parts)

Radius (2 parts), 15 cm, 7 g (both)

Phalanx 1 (2)

21 cm

6 g (both)

Ulna (2 parts), 15 cm, 6 g (both)

Phalanx 2 (2)

17 cm

4 g (both)

Wing metacarpal (2 parts), 14 cm, 8 g (both)

Phalanx 3 (2)

14 cm

3 g (both)

Carpals and syncarpals (8 parts)

Phalanx 4 (2)

9 cm

2 g (both)

Prox. syncarpal (2), 2.3 x 1.8 x 1 cm, < 2 g (both)

Fingers (24 parts)

Distal syncarpal (2), 2.3 x 1.8 x 1 cm, < 2 g (both)

Metacarpals (6), 13.5 cm, < 3 g (all)

Medial carpal (2), 1.3 x 1 x 0.8 cm, < 2 g (both)

Phalanges (12), 2.5, 2/1.8, 2.1/0.8/1.6 cm, 5 g (all)

Pteroid (2), 7 cm, < 2 g (both)

Fingernails (6), 1.8 x 1.1 x 0.3 cm (avg), < 3 g (all)

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Humeri

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/
33

Radii & ulnae

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-arm-bones-humeri-radii-ulnae/
34

Wing metacarpal

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/
35

Wing phalanges

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-wings/
36

Carpals and pteroid

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejara-carpals-and-pteroid/
37

Fingers

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/
38

Pelvic girdle (15 parts, 15 g)

Ilium & preacetabular process (2 parts), 8 cm, 2 g (both)

Ischium (2 parts), 2.8 x 2.5 cm, 3 g (both)
Pubis (2 parts), 3 x 2.5 cm, 2 g (both)
Postacetabular process (2 parts), 3.5 x 2.3 cm, 3 g (both)
Pre-pubis (2 parts), 4.5 x 2.2 cm, 2 g (both)
Gastralia (5 parts), 4.2 x 2.5 cm, 5 g (all) - 4 not used
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Pelvic bones

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/
http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/tapejara-abdominal-bones/
40

Pelvic girdle

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pelvic-girdle/
41

Pectoral girdle (45 parts, 35g)

Sternum (1 part), 8.3 x 6.2 x 2 cm, 5 g

Scapula (2 parts), 8 cm, 3 g (both)
Coracoid (2 parts), 6.7 cm, 3 g (both)
Ribs (22 parts), 3.5 to 6.5 cm (curved), 20 g (all)
Sternal ribs (10 parts), 1.7 to 4.5 cm, 5 g (all)

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Shoulders and chest

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/tapejara-shoulders-and-chest/
43

Pectoral girdle

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/tapejara-pectoral-girdle/
44

Legs and feet (46 parts, 15g)

Femur (2 parts)

12.5 cm

5 g (both)

Tibiotarsus (2 parts)

1 x 7.5 cm

5 g (both)

Distal tarsals (4 parts)

1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm

1 g (all)

Metatarsals (8 parts)

4.2, 4.4, 3.8, 3.5 (cm)

< 2 g (all)

Fifth toe (2 parts)

1.2 cm

< 1 g (both)

Toe phalanges (20 parts)

2, 1.3/1.8, 1.7/0.6/1.6, 2/0.5/0.5/1.3(cm) < 3 g (all)

Toenails (8 parts)

1.7 x 0,7 x 0.2 cm

45

< 2 g (all)

Legs

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/07/27/tapejara-pelvis-and-legs/
46

Feet

http://imaginosaurus.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/tapejaras-hands-and-feet/
47

Working with XPS

Folding

Tupandactylus imperator

!
!
!

Melting, adding texture and shaping with fire

48

Tupuxuara leonardii

Texture and stains

Acrylic polymer emulsion adheres
to coarse XPS (treated with fire)

Tupuxuara leonardii

!
!
!
!
Used coffee powder stains

49

Protective coating

Neurocranium after coating with liquid

epoxy and matte varnish

Liquid epoxy and matte varnish

Parts drying after

coating with
liquid epoxy
"Shiny" parts after liquid epoxy is dry

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Assembly

51

Assembly: lateral view

5

Flying position

4
1

Wings slightly curved

Flying downwards

Skeleton could be suspended with only four points of

support: head(1), back(2) and first wing phalanges(3,4).
I used 3 more points to improve distribution of weight,
lift the back(5) and control the shape of the wings(6,7).

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Assembly: ventral view

Flying position
Support is made of
aluminum antenna
cylinders 2m x 1m
More than 80% of the
weight is distributed
among points 1, 2 and 5

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Installation

54

Peirpolis Museum

Jose Gustavo Abreu Murta

(Complexo Cientfico Cultural de Peirpolis)

Uberaba, MG, Brazil

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Other pterosaurs by Helder da Rocha

Anhanguera

Anhanguera

Tupuxuara

Tupandactylus

Guidraco

Caupedactylus
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Acknowledgements
This project was commissioned by the Peirpolis Cultural and Scientific Complex, which includes
the museum where this replica is currently in display. I would like to thank professor Vicente
Antunes, the director of the institution, for this opportunity, the staff at the museum, and the
researchers Thiago Marinho and Agustin Martinelli who first contacted me, as well as the
paleoartist Rodolfo Nogueira for introducing me to professor Vicente (who told him about his
wish to have a pterosaur in the museum.)
Although I made all the bones by myself, I had help from many people who kindly provided
me with photographic sources, articles and paleontological advice: Felipe Pinheiro, Hebert
Bruno Campos, and specially Brian Andres who gave me access to many high-resolution
photographs and shared his data and scientific advice that were critical to the accuracy of this
replica.
Installing the pterosaur was a challenging and dangerous task, but paleontologist Agustin
Martinelli bravely climbed and crawled under the thin aluminum ceiling of the museum six
metres above to install the structure which currently suspends the pterosaur in a flying
position.
Finally I must thank the family who hosted me in Uberaba: Alpio, Regis, Ludmila and Lucia
(and their many cats) for their fantastic hospitality, for dedicating time and effort to make my
stay as comfortable as possible, for driving me to Peiropolis and back (40km!) and even letting
me occupy their kitchen table during three days, turning it into a pterosaur assembly lab!
57

Sources: publications
1. Kellner, A. W. A. (1989). A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the
Araripe Basin, Northeast Brazil. Anais de Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 61, 439446.
2. Eck, K., Elgin, R.A. and Frey, E. (2011). On the osteology of Tapejara wellnhoferi
KELLNER 1989 and the first occurrence of a multiple specimen assemblage from the
Santana Formation, Araripe Basin, NE-Brazil. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology
3. Wellnhofer P, Kellner A. W. A (1991) The skull of Tapejara wellnhoferi Kellner (Reptilia,
Pterosauria) from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation of the Araripe Basin,
northeastern Brazil. Mitt. Bayer. Staatsslg Palont hist Geol 31: 89106.
4. Elgin R. and Campos H. B. N. (2011). A new specimen of the azhdarchoid pterosaur
Tapejara wellnhoferi. Hist Biol DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2011.613467.
5. Kellner, A.W.A. (1996) . Description of the braincase of two Early Cretaceous pterosaurs
(Pterodactyloidea) from Brazil. American Museum Novitates vol. 3168 , p. 1 34
6. Kellner, A.W. A. (2004). The ankle structure of two pterodactyloid pterosaurs from the
Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Brazil. Bulletin AMNH 285: 25-35.
7. Witton. M. (2013). Pterosaurs. Princeton University Press.
8. Wellnhofer, P. (1991) Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs. Crescent Press.
58

Sources: publications
9. Sayo J. M., Kellner A. W. A. (2006) Novo esqueleto parcial de pterossauro
(Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae) do Membro Crato (Aptiano), Formao Santana, Bacia do
Araripe, nordeste do Brasil. Estudos Geolgicos 16, 1640.
10. Kellner A. W. A. (2004) New information on the Tapejaridae (Pterosauria,
Pterodactyloidea) and discussion of the relationships of this clade. Ameghiniana 41: 521534.
11. Kellner A. W. A. and Tomida Y. (2000). Description of a new species of Anhangueridae
(Pterodactyloidea) with comments on the pterosaur fauna from the Santana Formation
(Aptian-Albian), northeastern Brazil. National Science Museum Monograph 17:1-135
12. O. Kuhn and P. Wellnhofer. (1978). Handbuch der Palaoherpetologie. Teil 19:
Pterosauria
13. Claessens LPAM, OConnor PM, Unwin DM (2009) Respiratory Evolution Facilitated
the Origin of Pterosaur Flight and Aerial Gigantism. PLoS ONE 4(2): e4497. doi:10.1371/
journal.pone.0004497
14. Frey, E. Buchy, M-C., Martill, D. (2003) Middle- and bottom-decker Cretaceous
pterosaurs: unique designs in active flying vertebrates. In Buffetaut, E. & Mazin, J- M,
Evolution and Paleobiology of Pterosaurs. Geological Society, London.

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helder.darocha@gmail.com.
+55.11.992.910.567

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