Ornithocheiridae
These expert fishermen were among the biggest and most spectacular of all the toothed pterosaurs and used their long wings to fly great distances over immense waterways.
Pterosaurs
22 genera-
CenomanianAerodraco
The name Aerodraco harkens back to one of the oldest popular books written about pterosaurs.
Wingspan 3 m -
AlbianAetodactylus
This American ornithocheiroid comes from the start of the Late Cretaceous, a time when not much is known from the rocks of the continent.
Wingspan 3 m -
AptianAnhanguera
The "old devil" of the Brazilian skies was a powerful flier that soared over open seas, reeling in fish.
Wingspan 4.5 m -
AptianAraripesaurus
The first pterosaur named from Brazil’s famous Santana Formation is only known from a partial wing.
Wingspan 2.2 m -
AptianArthurdactylus
Arthurdactylus is named for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose novel “The Lost World” envisioned a land of living dinosaurs and pterosaurs on the same Brazilian plateau where its fossils were discovered.
Wingspan 4.6 m -
AlbianAussiedraco
This “Aussie dragon” is one of only a few named Australian pterosaurs.
Wingspan 3.5 m -
AptianBarbosania
This long-nosed pterosaur fished in the ancient Atlantic Ocean.
Wingspan 2.3 m -
AptianBrasileodactylus
This medium-sized pterosaur plucked fish from the sea with its long, toothy jaws.
Wingspan 2.5 m -
CenomanianCamposipterus
Fossil snout fragments show that Camposipterus was an oceanic fisher.
Wingspan 4 m -
BarremianCaulkicephalus
Caulkicephalus was found on the Isle of Wight, an island off the coast of England. Its name comes from the term "Caulkhead," a traditional nickname for Isle of Wight residents.
Wingspan 5 m -
AptianCearadactylus
This big pterosaur had a fearsome array of teeth in its long jaws, all for trapping slippery marine fish.
Wingspan 5.5 m -
CenomanianCimoliopterus
This hump-nosed fisher surprisingly evolved its crest independently of its famous cousin.
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AptianColoborhynchus
The distinctive flat-fronted snout of this English pterosaur shows similarities to its closest relatives from Texas and Morocco.
Wingspan 1.5 m -
CenomanianFerrodraco
Australia’s most complete pterosaur specimen, nicknamed “Butch,” is a close relative to species in both Australia and Europe.
Wingspan 4 m -
AptianLinlongopterus
Known only from a skull, Linlongopterus fished in lakes in ancient China.
Wingspan 3 m -
AptianLudodactylus
Combining the long cranial crest of Pteranodon and a toothy grin, Ludodactylus is a toy pterosaur come to life.
Wingspan 4 m -
AptianMaaradactylus
Maaradactylus was a long-toothed fish-eating pterosaur with crests near the end of its snout that lived in northeastern Brazil 110 million years ago.
Wingspan 4.5 m -
AlbianMythunga
100 million years ago, Mythunga, a giant fish-eating pterosaur, soared over Australian seas.
Wingspan 4.7 m -
AlbianOrnithocheirus
Among the earliest pterosaurs discovered, Ornithocheirus rose to fame only after its portrayal in the 1999 documentary Walking with Dinosaurs. Yet, there was something else accompanying this popularity: A massive taxonomic pickle that took years to resolve.
Wingspan 5 m -
AptianSiroccopteryx
Morocco’s first named pterosaur has family ties to England and Texas.
Wingspan 3.5 m -
AptianTropeognathus
This Brazilian pterosaur was one of the largest known flying reptiles.
Wingspan 8 m -
AlbianUktenadactylus
Found in the vicinity of Fort Worth, Texas, USA, Uktenadactylus was a large fishing pterosaur.
Wingspan 4 m
