Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
386 / Mesozoic
Alienopterus
Alienopterus brachyelytrus
Short leathery forewings covered folded membranous hindwings.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 99 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Cretaceous
- Geographic range
- Flowering-plant understory · Myanmar
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Alienopterus?
Alienopterus (Alienopterus brachyelytrus) was an extinct organism known from About 99 million years ago, with a range in Flowering-plant understory · Myanmar.
Life and ecology
This alienopterid crawled and flew through Cretaceous foliage and may have eaten pollen, plants or small prey.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Alienopterus disappear?
Alienopterids left no living descendants after Cretaceous turnover.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Alienopterus?
Amber and compression fossils preserve wings, legs and mouthparts; diet remains inferred.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS