# Tapejara (*Tapejara wellnhoferi*)

Tapejara was a pterosaur— a flying reptile— that soared over coastlines and lakes using long wings.

- **Category:** [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/ancient)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mesozoic coastlines and lakes

![Tapejara](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Tapejara_wellnoferi.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Nobu Tamura ( http://spinops.blogspot.com ), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tapejara_wellnoferi.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tapejara has a striking, enormous bony crest on its head, possibly adorned with vibrant colors for display. Its relatively short body is supported by large, leathery wings, giving it a unique silhouette in the ancient skies. The crest's shape can vary between species.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Its incredible crest was actually made of bone and supported by soft tissue!
- Tapejara may have eaten mostly fruit, making it an ancient fruit-eating reptile!
- The largest Tapejara could have a wingspan wider than a small car!
- This amazing pterosaur lived in ancient Brazil, where many unique fossils are found.

## Special abilities

- **Giant Head Sail:** Tapejara has a huge, sail-like head crest that helps them identify each other and attract mates with its vibrant colors.
- **Sky Navigator:** Tapejara can glide effortlessly on ancient air currents because of its large wings, saving energy during long flights.
- **Berry Picker Beak:** Tapejara has a strong, toothless beak that helps them pluck and crush fruits and seeds from prehistoric plants.

## Measurements & details

- **Length:** 3.5-5 m
- **Weight:** 10-20 kg
- **Era:** Mesozoic (Early Cretaceous)
- **Extinct Millions Years Ago:** 108

## Diet & Feeding

Tapejara likely enjoyed a diet primarily of fruits and seeds found in its lush prehistoric environment.

- **Primary Foods:** Fruits, Seeds, Nuts, Plant material
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Ancient Conifer (*Araucaria mirabilis*) — Provides fruits and seeds for Tapejara to eat.
- **Eaten by:** Irritator (*Irritator challengeri*) — Larger predatory dinosaur that might have hunted or scavenged Tapejara.
- **Eats:** Ancient Fish (*Rhacolepis buccalis*) — Tapejara might have occasionally eaten fish, especially during scarcity of fruit.

## Traits

- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient): Ancient refers to organisms, objects, or geological formations that have existed for an extremely long period.
- [Artifact](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/artifact): An artifact is an object made or modified by human culture, typically of historical or archaeological interest.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.

## Collections

- [Ancient](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ancient)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

While extremely dangerous in their time, this creature is now extinct.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tapejara?

Compare skull shape, horns, plates, limbs, posture and tail. Museum models and toys can mix features or follow outdated reconstructions. Dinosaur Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How long is Tapejara?

3.5-5 m

### How much does Tapejara weigh?

10-20 kg

### What does Tapejara eat?

Tapejara likely enjoyed a diet primarily of fruits and seeds found in its lush prehistoric environment.

### Where is Tapejara usually found?

Mesozoic coastlines and lakes

### How does Tapejara hunt?

Foraging

### What geologic era did Tapejara live in?

Mesozoic (Early Cretaceous)

### When did Tapejara go extinct?

108

## More Ancient

- [Tyrannosaurus rex](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tyrannosaurus-rex) (*Tyrannosaurus rex*)
- [Triceratops](https://www.snappit.app/explore/triceratops) (*Triceratops horridus*)
- [Stegosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stegosaurus) (*Stegosaurus stenops*)
- [Brachiosaurus](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brachiosaurus) (*Brachiosaurus altithorax*)

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Source: [Tapejara: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tapejara)