Dorygnathidae

Dorygnathidae is a family of early pterosaurs within the non-pterodactyloid lineage Rhamphorhynchoidea. They lived during the Early to Middle Jurassic, roughly between 190 and 165 million years ago, with fossil remains primarily found in Europe and North America. The family is named for the type genus Dorygnathus.

Anatomy and diagnosis: Dorygnathids are generally small to medium-sized pterosaurs characterized by elongated skulls and long jaws. The dentition consists of slender, conical teeth arranged along the jaws, reflecting a predator-prey lifestyle. Their wings, like other pterosaurs, were formed by a membrane supported by a stretched forelimb, and they possessed the typical lightweight skeleton of rhamphorhynchoids. The postcranial skeleton exhibits features that indicate good gliding capacity and maneuverability in air and near shorelines or aquatic environments.

Paleobiology and ecology: The jaw and tooth morphology of dorygnathids suggests a piscivorous or nearshore foraging niche, taking small fish or invertebrates from coastal or inland waters. Their proportions and flight capabilities imply reputable aerial performance for catching prey on the wing or skimming water, as seen in many early pterosaurs.

Systematics and phylogeny: Dorygnathidae is treated as a distinct family within Rhamphorhynchoidea, separate from the later pterodactyloids. Its relationships with other early pterosaurs have varied with new analyses, but the group is generally viewed as a stem pterosaur lineage contributing to the broader diversification of early flying reptiles.

See also: Pterosaurs, Rhamphorhynchoidea, Dorygnathus.