Pterosauria

Taxon

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From the English Wikipedia. 
Original description: The pterodactyloid pterosaur Anhanguera piscator by John Conway,  [1]
Taxa Ptenodactylus

From the English Wikipedia. Original description: The pterodactyloid pterosaur Anhanguera piscator by John Conway, [1]

description Conway Anhanguera Ptenodactylus +1
Illustration of the holotype metacarpal of Dermodactylus montanus, a pterosaur from the Jurassic of Wyoming.  Reference 
Colbert EH (1969) A Jurassic Pterosaur from Cuba. American Museum Novitates 2370, 1-26
Taxa Dermodactylus

Illustration of the holotype metacarpal of Dermodactylus montanus, a pterosaur from the Jurassic of Wyoming. Reference Colbert EH (1969) A Jurassic Pterosaur from Cuba. American Museum Novitates 2370, 1-26

museum Cuba Jurassic holotype +2
‘Araripesaurus castilhoi’ A, B, holotype (DGM 549-R), the first pterosaur specimen from the Araripe basin, described by L. I. Price in 1971.
Taxa Araripesaurus

‘Araripesaurus castilhoi’ A, B, holotype (DGM 549-R), the first pterosaur specimen from the Araripe basin, described by L. I. Price in 1971.

holotype specimen Araripesaurus Pterosauria
Tropeognathine pterosaur Siroccopteryx moroccensis Mader andKellner, 1999, LINHM FR016, Kem Kem beds, Morocco, ?Albian–lowerCenomanian. A. Photograph in anterior (A1), left lateral (A2), and dorsal(A3) views. B. Interpretation of the palatal view following Mader andKellner (1999). Photographs courtesy of Megan L. Jacobs. Drawing byRVP based on Mader and Kellner (1999).
Taxa Siroccopteryx

Tropeognathine pterosaur Siroccopteryx moroccensis Mader andKellner, 1999, LINHM FR016, Kem Kem beds, Morocco, ?Albian–lowerCenomanian. A. Photograph in anterior (A1), left lateral (A2), and dorsal(A3) views. B. Interpretation of the palatal view following Mader andKellner (1999). Photographs courtesy of Megan L. Jacobs. Drawing byRVP based on Mader and Kellner (1999).

drawing Morocco Albian Pterosauria +1
An illustration of the pterosaur Normannognathus wellnhoferi
Taxa Normannognathus

An illustration of the pterosaur Normannognathus wellnhoferi

Normannognathus Pterosauria
Azhdarchoid pterosaur Kariridraco dianae gen. et sp. nov. holotype (MPSC R 1056) from Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil. Skull in right lateral view. Photograph (A1), interpretative drawing (A2). Dark grey areas indicate remains of the carbonate matrix still attachaed to the skull.
Taxa Kariridraco

Azhdarchoid pterosaur Kariridraco dianae gen. et sp. nov. holotype (MPSC R 1056) from Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil. Skull in right lateral view. Photograph (A1), interpretative drawing (A2). Dark grey areas indicate remains of the carbonate matrix still attachaed to the skull.

drawing Brazil Cretaceous holotype +3
Balaenognathus maeuseri gen. et sp. nov.: comparative interpretive drawings of the skulls of suspension feeding ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs in dorsal aspect. Balaenognathus this paper; Pterodaustro based on Bonaparte (1978); Plateleorhynchus based on Howse and Milner (1995); Gnathosaurus based on specimen JME-SOS 4580; Ctenochasma based on (2007 Fig. 2F)
Taxa Plataleorhynchus

Balaenognathus maeuseri gen. et sp. nov.: comparative interpretive drawings of the skulls of suspension feeding ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs in dorsal aspect. Balaenognathus this paper; Pterodaustro based on Bonaparte (1978); Plateleorhynchus based on Howse and Milner (1995); Gnathosaurus based on specimen JME-SOS 4580; Ctenochasma based on (2007 Fig. 2F)

feeding drawing specimen Balaenognathus +6
Samrukia nesovi was originally described as a giant bird, but is now considered a pterodactyloid pterosaur of uncertain placement and validity. 

References: 
Naish, D., Dyke, G., Cau, A., Escuillié, F., & Godefroit, P. (2011). A gigantic bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia. Biology Letters, 8(1), 97–100. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0683

Buffetaut, E. (2011). Samrukia nessovi, from the Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan: A large pterosaur, not a giant bird. Annales de Paléontologie, 97(3–4), 133–138. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2011.10.001
Taxa Samrukia

Samrukia nesovi was originally described as a giant bird, but is now considered a pterodactyloid pterosaur of uncertain placement and validity. References: Naish, D., Dyke, G., Cau, A., Escuillié, F., & Godefroit, P. (2011). A gigantic bird from the Upper Cretaceous of Central Asia. Biology Letters, 8(1), 97–100. doi:10.1098/rsbl.2011.0683 Buffetaut, E. (2011). Samrukia nessovi, from the Late Cretaceous of Kazakhstan: A large pterosaur, not a giant bird. Annales de Paléontologie, 97(3–4), 133–138. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2011.10.001

Kazakhstan Cretaceous Late Cretaceous Pterosauria +2
Crato Formation pterosaur diversity – the dawn of Araripe pterosaur era. We emphasize that the coexistence of the taxa is merely illustrative, since the lack of geological context for most pterosaur fossils from the Araripe Basin prevents a precise inference of contemporaneity.
Taxa Lacusovagus

Crato Formation pterosaur diversity – the dawn of Araripe pterosaur era. We emphasize that the coexistence of the taxa is merely illustrative, since the lack of geological context for most pterosaur fossils from the Araripe Basin prevents a precise inference of contemporaneity.

fossil Lacusovagus Pterosauria formation
Partial wing of a czech pterosaur Cretornis hlavaci, discovered in 1880 near Choceň. National Museum in Prague.
Taxa Cretornis

Partial wing of a czech pterosaur Cretornis hlavaci, discovered in 1880 near Choceň. National Museum in Prague.

museum Cretornis Pterosauria partial
(A)Alligator prenasalis, pterosaurs (B)Liaoxipterus brachycephalus and (C)Ludodactylus sibbicki, (D)basal ornithischian Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis, (E)tyrannosaur Yutyrannus huali (F) Sinosauropteryx prima.
Taxa Liaoxipterus

(A)Alligator prenasalis, pterosaurs (B)Liaoxipterus brachycephalus and (C)Ludodactylus sibbicki, (D)basal ornithischian Jeholosaurus shangyuanensis, (E)tyrannosaur Yutyrannus huali (F) Sinosauropteryx prima.

Jeholosaurus Liaoxipterus Ludodactylus Ornithischia +3
Australian Mesozoic pterosaurs. A, Aussiedraco molnari (QM F10613; holotype) mandible in dorsal view. Scale = 1 cm. B, Mythunga camara (QM F18896; holotype) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. C, Thapunngaka shawi (KK F494; holotype) mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. D, Ferrodraco lentoni (AODF 0876; holotype [part]) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm.
Taxa Aussiedraco

Australian Mesozoic pterosaurs. A, Aussiedraco molnari (QM F10613; holotype) mandible in dorsal view. Scale = 1 cm. B, Mythunga camara (QM F18896; holotype) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. C, Thapunngaka shawi (KK F494; holotype) mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm. D, Ferrodraco lentoni (AODF 0876; holotype [part]) partial skull and mandible in left lateral view. Scale = 5 cm.

scale Mesozoic holotype Aussiedraco +6
Life restoration of Harpactognathus gentryii, a pterosaur from Jurassic USA
Taxa Harpactognathus

Life restoration of Harpactognathus gentryii, a pterosaur from Jurassic USA

United States Jurassic Harpactognathus Pterosauria
The holotype specimen of the extinct pterosaur Ceoptera, NHMUK PV R 37110
Taxa Ceoptera

The holotype specimen of the extinct pterosaur Ceoptera, NHMUK PV R 37110

museum holotype specimen Ceoptera +1
Holotype specimen of the anurognathid pterosaur Sinomacrops
Taxa Sinomacrops

Holotype specimen of the anurognathid pterosaur Sinomacrops

holotype specimen Anurognathidae Pterosauria +1
Anhanguerid pterosaur Aerodraco sedgwickii gen. et comb. nov.,CAMSM B54422, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, Albian. In anterior(A1), left lateral (A2), palatal (A3), right lateral (A4), and dorsal (A5)views. Photographs by BH.
Taxa Aerodraco

Anhanguerid pterosaur Aerodraco sedgwickii gen. et comb. nov.,CAMSM B54422, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, Albian. In anterior(A1), left lateral (A2), palatal (A3), right lateral (A4), and dorsal (A5)views. Photographs by BH.

Albian Aerodraco Anhangueridae Pterosauria
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News

Queensland Ichthyosaur Fossil Provides World-first Evidence of Predation on a Pterosaur
predator prey Australia Toolebuc Cretaceous Early Cretaceous fossil Ichthyosauria Pterosauria formation
An extraordinary fossil from Queensland, Australia has provided evidence of a prehistoric food chain. Scientists have identified the first definitive evidence that an ichthyosaur consumed a pterosaur. Furthermore, the marine reptile later became prey for one of the largest predators in the ancient Eromanga Sea. The spectacular fossil comes from the Lower Cretaceous Toolebuc Formation
28/07/2026 everythingdinosaur
Pterosaurs May Have Sported Far More Varied Wings than Paleontologists Imagined
Pterosaurs May Have Sported Far More Varied Wings than Paleontologists Imagined
flight fossil Pterosauria biomechanics evolution
New research from the University of Bristol suggests that pterosaurs -- the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight -- probably displayed a much wider array of wing shapes and flying styles than fossil-based reconstructions have depicted. The post Pterosaurs May Have Sported Far More Varied Wings than Paleontologists Imagined appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
30/06/2026 sci-news
113-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Fossil Reveals What Flying Reptiles Ate
113-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Fossil Reveals What Flying Reptiles Ate
tissue feeding Brazil fossil Anhangueridae Pterosauria fish
A 113-million-year-old pterosaur fossil from northeastern Brazil has yielded rare evidence of soft tissues, organic molecules and chemical traces of a diet heavy in fish and cephalopods such as squid or nautilus relatives. The post 113-Million-Year-Old Pterosaur Fossil Reveals What Flying Reptiles Ate appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
19/06/2026 sci-news
Pterosaurs May Have Possessed Iridescent Pycnofibres
feather Pterosauria Tapejaridae behavior study
New research suggests that colourful tapejarid pterosaurs may have been even more spectacular than previously imagined. A recently published study proposes that some of these flying reptiles possessed iridescent pycnofibres that produced shimmering colours. As a result, these structures may have played an important role in visual signalling and display. The bodies of pterosaurs, the
19/06/2026 everythingdinosaur
Geosternbergia: Beast of the Week
Geosternbergia: Beast of the Week
fossil Geosternbergia Pteranodon Pterosauria taxonomy
 This week we are looing at a famous pterosaur.  Check out Geosternbergia sterngergi!  I'm going to start this post off with pointing out that Geosternbergia is considered simply a separate species within the genus, Pteranodon, by many experts, which would make its name Pteranodon sternbergi.  That being said, since I already did a post on Pteranodon longiceps, I'm choosing to refer to this pterosaur as Geosternbergia.  (taxonomy is complicated and also subject to change especially with fossils)
31/05/2026 prehistoricbeastoftheweek
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