Page 113 - Prehistoric Animals

Ram-For-Inkus

Rhamphorhynchus

Rhamphorhynchus (beak
snout) is a genus of long-tailed pter-
osaurs* which roamed the planet in
the Jurassic period, around 190 to
135 million years ago. The largest
known specimen, R. muensteri,
measured around 1.5 meters in
length with a wingspan around 2
meters.

Rhamphorhynchus is the smallest-known long-tailed spe-
cies of pterosaur. It had a long neck and tiny legs. In comparison to
its body it had a relatively large head that supported long beak-like
jaws. The jaws were lined with needle-sharp teeth; twenty on the
top jaw and fourteen on the bottom. When snapped shut these
curved shaped teeth would interlock, making it almost impossible
for any prey to wriggle free. It had long narrow wings, the covering
skin stretched taut over a long fourth finger on the clawed hands.
These clawed fingered hands could have been use for clinging or
climbing. Its tail was long possibly made of a tough fibrous tissue
that kept it straight and erect in flight. In adulthood the tail had a
triangle shaped vane on the end. However, as a juvenile, its be-
lieved the end tail vane would start lance shaped, changing into a
diamond before becoming a triangle. This tail and diamond vane is
thought to have a balancing or steering function.

Rhamphorhynchus, was a primitive type of flying reptile
and was possibly among the first vertebrates that flapped its wings
to fly. It was bird-like, but it did not have feathers. Its body was
covered in a brittle type of hair. It was a carnivore, and probably
had a diet of fish, and insects. Examination of its fossilised remains
has revealed it may have had a throat pouch. Birds with this type of
feature normally use it to store food.

Many fossilized remains of Rhamphorhynchus have been
found across Europe; most from southern Germany. However, on-
ly one, R. muensteri**, has been found to be true, all the others,
although named, require further study and are labelled doubtful.
Rhamphorhynchus’ disappearance is thought to have occurred in a
minor extinction event in the late Jurassic

* A group or clade of extinct reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a
bird-like beak and membranous wings supported by the very long fourth digit of each
forelimb. Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight
**R. muensteri, described by Münster and Goldfuss, was lost during World
War II