Batrachognathus

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iBatrachognathus Fossil range: Late Jurassic
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Pterosauria Suborder: Rhamphorhynchoidea Family: Anurognathidae Genus: Batrachognathus Species: B. volans
Binomial name
Batrachognathus volans Ryabinin, 1948

Batrachognathus ("frog jaw") was a ramphorhynchoid pterosaur of the late Jurassic (Oxfordian/Kimmeridgian) from the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan. The area of the find (N-W Tien Shan foothills of the Karatau Mountains) is similar in habitat to Solnhofen in Bavaria, Germany. An incomplete and disarticulated skeleton consisting of skull fragments, jaw, vertebrae, ribs, legs and wing bones were found of the species. The upper jaw has 24 peg teeth with the lower jaw to make a high skull and short mouth of 48 mm long.

A similar species was Anurognathus with a wingspan of 50 cm, the animal is not preserved with a tail, but whether it had one is debatable.

[edit] References

• Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Creatures, edited by Ingrid Cranfield, 2000 Salamander Books Ltd pg 280-281.
• Rjabinin A. N., 1948, "Remarks on a flying reptile from the Jurassic of the Kara-Tau", Akademia Nauk, Paleontological Institute, Trudy, 15(1): 86-93