Santanadactylus
The genus was named in 1980 by the Dutch paleontologist Paul de Buisonjé. The type species is "S. brasilensis", the specific name referring to Brazil. It is based on holotype UvA M 4894 (Geological Institute of the University of Amsterdam), an upper part of the right humerus and a right scapulacoracoid. UvA M 4895, consisting of two cervical vertebrae from a different individual, was assigned as a paratype, referred because it was found in the same lot of 25 chalk nodules bought from collectors. Additional remains, including a notarium (fused vertebrae supporting the shoulder) were subsequently referred to the taxon by Wellnhofer "et al." (1983) and Wellnhofer (1991). In 1985, Peter Wellnhofer, a German paleontologist who has written numerous scientific publications on pterosaurs, named three additional species: "S. araripensis", "S. pricei", and "S. spixi". "S. araripensis", named after the Araripe Plateau, was a large species based on BSP 1982 I 89, remains including a partial skull (missing the end of the jaws) and arms; the preserved skull section had no crest. "S. pricei", named after Llewellyn Ivor Price, was the smallest of the three species; it was based on BSP 1980 I 122, a left wing from the elbow down, and additional arm material has been referred to it over the years. "S. spixi", intermediate in size, was based on BSP 1980 I 121, another left wing, the name honoring Johann Baptist von Spix. Over the years, the species of this taxon have been reassessed. Chris Bennett suggested that the hypodigm of "S. brasilensis" was a chimera of a pteranodontid and something else (in that the holotype and paratype belonged to different forms), "S. araripensis" and "S. pricei" were pteranodontids, and "S. spixi" was a dsungaripterid. Wellnhofer (1991) removed "S. spixi" from the genus as well. Kellner and Campos (1992) agreed that "S. spixi" was not congeneric with "S. brasiliensis", but suggested that it was a tapejarid. Unwin (2003) proposed that "Santanadactylus" "spixi" was a species of "Tupuxuara" based on comparison with specimens of this genus. Averianov (2014) considered "Santanadactylus spixi" a "nomen dubium" probably synonymous with "Tupuxuara longicristatus", and he also indicated that the paratype of "S. brasiliensis" was likely referable to "T. longicristatus". Kellner (1990) renamed "S. araripensis" to "Anhanguera araripensis", followed by Wang "et al." (2008), though Veldmeijer (2003) included it in "Coloborhynchus". Recent study, however, considers "S. araripensis" dubious. De Buisonjé first assigned "Santanadactylus" to Criorhynchidae (=Ornithocheiridae). Wellnhofer (1991) considered it a member of the Ornithocheiridae based on the structure of the humerus, but noted that the elongation of the paratype neck vertebrae distinguished it from other ornithocheirids. Bennett (1989) assigned "S. brasilensis" (holotype only) to Pteranodontidae. Kellner (1990), concluding that he could find but a single autapomorphy for "Santanadactylus brasilensis", the straight ventral margin of the proximal part of the deltopectoral crest, assigned the genus to Pterodactyloidea "incertae sedis", but later (Kellner and Tomida 2000) assigned it to Pteranodontoidea. "S. pricei" according to Kellner belonged to a clade descending from the last common ancestor of "Istiodactylus" and the Anhangueridae. The same was in his analysis true for "Araripesaurus", a genus of which he had previously thought "S. pricei" was a junior synonym. "Santanadactylus" is regarded as a large pterosaur, Wellnhofer for the various species indicating a wingspan of 2.9–5.7 meters (9.5–18.7 ft). De Buisonjé thought "Santanadactylus brasilensis" had a wingspan of . It may have been adapted for gliding over flapping flight.
Paleobiology
It was a rather large pterosaur.