Where Is The Habitat Of The Rhamphorhynchus ?
The Rhamphorhynchus, which in Greek means ‘beak snout’, dates back to the Jurassic period. This flying reptile belonged to the pterosaur family and lived between 163 and 144 million years ago. The rhamphorynchus was a long tailed pterosaur, which balanced itself in flight with a kite-shaped flap at the end of its tail. |
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Its membranous wings were stiffened with fibers that ran front to back and it is believed that these fibers perhaps also preserved the thin membrane from rents and tears. The wings in some specimens had a span of up to 2 meters.
Paleontologists believe that the rhamphorynchus was fish eating because of the unique shape of its sharp toothed beak. The lower beak was streamlined which led scientists to conclude the animal skimmed the water trailing the lower beak. When it caught a fish its needle sharp teeth snapped shut and the fish was transported into a pouch a bit like a pelicans. Fossils have been found with this structure well preserved. The strong shoulder girdle and wings of the rhamphorynchus suggest it was a strong flier. It could well have been warm blooded, a conclusion drawn because of the hair like structures on the body.
Most fossils of the rhamphorynchus were found in marine deposits which make it safe to assume its natural habitat was near water. Scientists believe the rhamphorynchus was native to parts of Europe and Africa. Some of the finest fossil specimens have been found in southern England but arguably the best in Bavaria at a limestone quarry called Solnhofen.
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