Name:
Dorygnathus (Greek for "spear jaw"); pronounced DOOR-rig-NATH-us
Habitat:
Shores of western Europe
Historical Period:
Early Jurassic (190 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 3 feet long; weight unknown
Diet:
Fish
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Long tail; long, intermeshing front teeth
About Dorygnathus:
With its long tail and narrow wings, Dorygnathus was a good example of what paleontologists call a rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur (among its closest relatives were Rhamphorhynchus and Dimorphodon). Rhamphorhynchoids have been found almost exclusively in western Europe, though it's not clear if this is because they were confined to this geographical location or if conditions in early Jurassic Europe happened to be well-suited for fossil preservation.
The most notable feature of Dorygnathus is its long, intermeshing front teeth, which it almost certainly used to snag fish off the surface of the water and hold them firmly in its mouth.
