Tapejara was a marine pterosaur - a type of flying reptile. It was typical of later pterosaurs in that it had only a very short tail. It had a remarkable head crest, up to a metre tall. It is possible it used this for display purposes, as a male peacock would use its tail feathers.

Rather like a birds beak, the end of its jaw was directed downwards at the front.

Tapejara fossils were found in Brazil. Its name means "The Old Being". This comes from the mythology of the original habitants of Brazil, the Tupi Indians.

Most palaentologists consider that pterosaurs are close cousins of the dinosaurs, but the absence of transitional forms makes this uncertain.