Scaphognathus

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Scaphognathus
Fossil range: Late Jurassic

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Sauropsida
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Rhamphorhynchoidea
Family: Rhamphorhynchidae
Genus: Scaphognathus
Wild, 1983
Species

S. crassirostris Wild, 1983 (type)

Scaphognathus was a pterosaur that lived around Germany during the Late Jurassic. It had a wingspan of about 1 meter. It may have had a much larger brain than most reptiles. The areas of the brain connected with sight and movement were particularly well developed. The first fossil was described by August Goldfuss in 1831 as Pterodactylus crassirostris; a new genus name was created by Rupert Wild in 1983, based on a more complete juvenile skeleton.

This rhamphorhynchid had a broader jaw and shorter wings and tail in comparison to other members of its family. All specimens of the species were discovered in Bavaria.

Synonyms:

  • Pterodactylus crassirostris (Goldfuss 1830)
  • Pachyrhamphus crassirostris (Fitzinger 1843
  • Ornithocephalus crassirostris (Wagner 1851)
  • Brachytrachelus crassirostris (Geibel 1852)
  • Rhamphorhynchus crassirostris (Wagner 1858)

[edit] References

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