Where Is The Habitat Of The Rhamphorhynchus ?
| The rhamphorynchus was a long tailed pterosaur, which balanced itself in flight with a kite-shaped flap at the end of its tail. 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. |
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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.More...
Did Rhamphorhynchus Eat Fish ?
The Rhamphorhynchus is one species of pterosaurs, bird-like creatures that ruled the skies from as far back as 220 million years ago. Some remarkably well preserved fossils of the Rhamphorhynchus have been found in Europe, especially in Southern England but more especially from the Solnhofen quarry in Bavaria, Germany. The fine-grain limestone has preserved these specimens down to impressions of the soft tissues like the tail and wings.
Since most fossils of pterosaurs were found in marine deposits it would be fair to conclude that their standard diet was seafood -- fish and other animals that lived in water. In fact, one of the fossils found at Solnhofen was found with a fish in its stomach. Further evidence that supports this hypothesis is the shape of the beak of the Rhamphorhynchus which is long and narrow with the bottom hinged segment being streamlined. The Rhamphorynchus had large membranous wings which would have posed a problem has they come in contact with water. Hence it is believed that the rhamphorynchus was a skimmer rather than a diver or a swimmer.More...
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