25.10.2024

The last menu of pterosaurs

Science News
Rekonstruktion eines urzeitlichen Lebensraumes des frühen Juras Südwestdeutschlands im Museum am Löwentor

Pterosaurs ruled the skies during the age of the dinosaurs. Over millions of years, they evolved into an enormous variety of forms, including giant species with wingspans of up to 12 metres. But little is known about how and what these pterosaurs ate. The spectacular discovery of fossilised stomach contents in two pterosaurs species, Dorygnathus and Campylognathoides, from the Early Jurassic of Southwest-Germany has provided new insights into their diet and feeding behavior.

The stomach contents show that the pterosaur Dorygnathus ate small fish, while Campylognathoides ate prehistoric squid. This oldest and world's first clear evidence of squid consumption in pterosaurs tells researchers a lot about the animals' lifestyle, ecology and evolution.

Press release

Original publication