Anurognathidae
Among the most adorable of all pterosaurs, these animals were small and fluffy, with gigantic night-piercing eyes. They were the owls and bats of their time and flew after insects through the dark Jurassic forests.
Pterosaurs
10 genera-
TithonianAnurognathus
The archetype of cute and weird pterosaurs, Anurognathus hunted at night. Its large eyes helped it to pick up even the faintest traces of light, while its massive fur-covered wings softened its movements against the still air.
Wingspan 50 cm -
OxfordianBatrachognathus
This tiny “frog-mouthed” pterosaur was a master hunter of insects during the Late Jurassic in what is now Kazakhstan.
Wingspan 75 cm -
OxfordianCascocauda
This insect-eating pterosaur had a longer tail than most of its close kin.
Wingspan 43 cm -
OxfordianDendrorhynchoides
Anurognathidae This small pterosaur from the Middle Jurassic of China probably filled a similar ecological role as a living swallow: aerial insect hunter.
Wingspan 50 cm -
OxfordianJeholopterus
This Chinese insect-hunting pterosaur is known from an incredible specimen including wing membranes and shaggy hair covering its body.
Wingspan 90 cm -
BarremianLuopterus
Originally thought to be a species of Dendrorhynchoides, the name of this anurognathid honors the late pterosaurologist Lü Junchang.
Wingspan 40 cm -
TithonianMesadactylus
This small, acrobatic insect eater lived with giant dinosaurs during the Late Jurassic Period.
Wingspan 70 cm -
OxfordianSinomacrops
This aerial insect hunter has a long tail that's unique for its family.
Wingspan 33 cm -
BarremianSinuiju Anurognathid
North Korea was home to the last known member of the insect-eating anurognathids.
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AptianVesperopterylus
This small insectivore may have been able to perch on tree branches.
Wingspan 1 m
