| What's a show without fireworks? That's what this next animal gives us: aerial color and excitement! And check out that sail behind its head! Spectacular! Oh, what I meant to say was, this is a Tapejara, one of our more interesting flying species. If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a fan. I think you should be, too. |
Tapejara is a genus of tapejarid pterosaur in the Jurassic World Evolution series. Originating from Early Cretaceous South America, it is a relatively small pterosaur with a semicircular crest.
Tapejara was a newly added species in the base game of Evolution 2, and its fossils can be found in the Romualdo Formation. Tapejara then returns in the base game of Evolution 3.
Characteristics
A rather small species of pterosaur native to Brazil with a unique appearance, Tapejara can be easily recognized by its massive crest on top of its head, which consisted of a semicircular crest over the snout and a bony prong or sail which extends back behind the head that measures a meter in length, helping it to attract mates. Its wingspan of around 4 meters makes it one of the smaller pterosaurs, while the name Tapejara translates to "Old Being".
Gameplay
Cosmetics
Skins
Paleontology
Information regarding the history of Tapejara is limited with only one confirmed specimen has been recovered thus far. Hailing from the Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation of Brazil, Tapejara was described as a new genus in 1989 by Alexander Kellner under the species T. wellnhoferi and was placed alongside Tupuxuara within the newly-defined Tapejaridae, a group of Azhdarchoid pterosaurs known to possess large, bony crests extending from their snouts.
In the following years, further new fossils were unearthed that were initially classified as Tapejara (T. imperator and T. navigans) – however, these two species were subsequently found later to be new genera, named Tupandactylus which had a wingspan of 2.7 to 4 m (8.9 to 13 ft) wide. Tapejara itself was one of the smaller pterosaurs known, with a 4-foot wingspan.
Paleoecology
Tapejara existed approximately 110 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous period, flying across the skies of Brazil – with most paleontologists believe it fed on fruits and seeds. It inhabited a shallow basin environment, from which numerous specimens of aquatic animals like fish and turtles have also been recovered, as well as several other pterosaurs, including fellow tapejarids Thalassodromeus, Karirdraco, and Tupuxuara, as well as the anhanguerids Anhanguera and Cearadactylus and the large ornithocheirid Tropeognathus. Also living in the ecosystem was the spinosaurid Irritator, which was discovered with gut content containing bones belonging to that of a pterosaur.
Like other tapejarids, Tapejara is thought to have been an arboreal frugivore or omnivore and not a carnivore like depicted in-game, feeding on high-growing fruits with its parrot-like beak.
Behind the scenes
Tapejara was introduced during the Dev Diary 3 event on October 27th, 2021.
Gallery
External links
- Tapejara on Wikipedia
