In Depth Liaoningopterus was one of the largest pterosaurs known from China, and is considered to be similar to the pterosaur Anhanguera known from all over the world. Liaoningopterus had two crests on both the top of its snout and lower jaw, similar to Ornithocheirus which is why Liaoningopterus is placed within the Ornithocheiridae. Also … Read more
In Depth The teeth of Haopterus are quite robust. As well as extending for the first two thirds of the jaws they also point towards the back of the mouth. These teeth are well adapted for catching and holding onto fish, which seem to be the preferred diet of pterosaurs that belong to the Ornithocheiridae. … Read more
In Depth To realise the full meaning of the name Ludodactylus (toy finger), you may have to revisit your childhood. Whereas Pteranodon is by far the most easily recognised pterosaur by the general public, toys of it often have the presence of teeth in its jaws in order to make it look more ferocious. This … Read more
In Depth The holotype specimen of Cearadactylus was not dug out of the ground by a dedicated research team, but was instead purchased from fossil dealers in Italy in 1983. Unfortunately these fossil dealers made several mistakes in rebuilding the fossil, including mistaking the front of the lower jaw for the snout and setting it … Read more
In Depth Remains of Ornithocheirus indicate that it was a medium sized pterosaur however Ornithocheirus has still had its total size grossly overestimated in the popular media, with the most outlandish suggesting that it had a wingspan of twelve metres. The crests of Ornithocheirus were quite different from the majority of other pterosaurs in that … Read more
In Depth Yixianopterus had numerous small concical teeth in its jaws that would have allowed it to pluck fish from the water. The pterosaur Avgodectes is considered by some to be a potential synonym of Yixianopterus, although at the time of writing this is still under debate. Further Reading – New pterodactyloid pterosaur from the … Read more
In Depth Caulkicephalus had to be reconstructed from several fragments before it could be classified. Once pieced together the form of an ornithocheirid pterosaur was easy to see including the specialised fish catching dentition. Although only the replacement teeth that are still within the jaw have been preserved, the size of the actual teeth can … Read more
In Depth Despite the fact that Mythunga is only known from a partial skull it is still one of the best preserved Australian pterosaur fossils which are in themselves rare from Australia. This is not to say that Australia didn’t have its fair share of pterosaurs, just that they did not preserve very well in … Read more
In Depth The forward dentition of Coloborhynchus was quite special with the front two teeth pointing forwards, and the immediate three pairs of teeth behind them pointing to the sides. This tooth arrangement would have made it much easier for Coloborhynchus to catch and carry fish out of the water. The remaining teeth behind the … Read more
In Depth Ferrodraco is a genus of pterosaur known to have lived in Australia during the late Cretaceous. Ferrodraco is an ornithocheird pterosaur, a type often associated with the sea, snatching fish from the water. Like many of its relatives, Ferrodraco had a crest rising up on the end of the snout, which in Ferrodraco … Read more