Pterosaurs
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Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Rhamphorhynchus 2022. Prehistoric, Pterosaurs. Retrieved 19 March 2024, from
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Prehistoric, Pterosaurs, s.v. "Rhamphorhynchus," accessed March 19, 2024.
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Rhamphorhynchus
Rhamphorhynchus was a pterosaur that lived in Europe and Asia in the Late Jurassic Period. It had a small, furry body with a short neck and tiny legs. Its wings were made of skin stretched between long fourth finger and back legs, reinforced with stiffening fibres and muscles. Its long, stiffened tail ended in a diamond-shaped vane. Rhamphorhynchus's long, narrow, beak-like jaws were filled with sharp teeth that pointed forwards.
The first pterosaurs
The earliest-known pterosaurs were already advanced fliers by the Late Triassic Period, about 210 million years ago. Pterosaurs from the Triassic and Jurassic, including Rhamphorhynchus and other members of its family, the rhamphorhynchs, differ from later pterosaurs, such as Pteranodon, by having longer tails and shorter necks.
Fishing technique
Rhamphoryhnchus had huge eye-sockets, indicating that its eyes were large and that its eyesight was sharp. This enabled it to spot prey on land or in the water from high up.
In order to catch its prey in rivers or at sea, Rhamphorhynchus probably flew low, dragging its sharp-toothed, upwards-curving beak in the water, with its long tail held out straight to keep itself stable. After it caught a fish, it tossed it into its throat pouch—a technique similar to that of pelicans today. Although they pointed forwards and outwards, its teeth would have formed an effective cage for trapping the fish once the pterosaur had grabbed it in its jaws.
On land
When on land, Rhamphorhynchus may have spent much of its time hanging from cliffs and branches, using its clawed fingers and toes to climb up and hang on. A grasping fifth toe and sharp claws suggest it was an expert climber. While on the ground, it folded its wings in the same way that birds and bats do today.
Dimorphodon
One of Rhamphorhynchus's relatives, Dimorphodon lived during the Early Jurassic Period, flying above the seas over what is now Europe in search of fish, its main food. Its wingspan was 1.2 metres (4 feet).
Like all members of the rhamphorhynch family, Dimorphodon had a disproportionately large head. But its head was deep and narrow like a puffin’s. For a male, the size and colouring of its bill might well have played a crucial role in impressing females during courtship. Based on studies of Dimorphodon’s fossil hip and leg bones, it probably had an erect, bird-like stance, with the legs set directly under its body. It could probably run on its toes quite quickly.
Batrachognathus
Tiny Batrachognathus (“frog-jaw”), from Central Asia in the Late Jurassic, had jaws lined with peg-like teeth and probably fed on insects. Its small size and lack of a long tail gave it the agility to chase after fast-flying dragonflies.
Facts about Rhamphorhynchus
Pronunciation: RAM-foh-RIN-kuss
Wingspan: Up to 1.8 m (6 ft)
Where and when: Europe and Africa, especially near coasts, rivers and lakes, 150 million years ago (Late Jurassic)
Diet: Fish, frogs and insects
Features: Lightweight body and wings; long tail with vane at tip, acting as a rudder for changing direction in flight; excellent eyesight; sharp teeth for catching and trapping prey
Relatives: Eudimorphodon, Dimorphodon, Scaphognathus, Anurognathus (Europe); Sordes, Batrachognathus (Asia)
Consultant: Chris Jarvis