Dorygnathus

Dorygnathus is a genus of small to medium-sized pterosaur from the Early Jurassic period, typically placed in the family Dorygnathidae within the group Rhamphorhynchoidea. The name means “spear jaw,” in reference to its elongated, pointed snout. Fossils are primarily known from European deposits dating to the Early Jurassic, making Dorygnathus one of the better-documented early pterosaurs.

Morphology of Dorygnathus is characterized by a long, slender skull with numerous conical teeth and a relatively small head compared with the body. The jaws form a long rostrum that would have been well suited for catching fish. Like other rhamphorhynchoids, it possessed a long tail and a wing membrane supported by an elongated forelimb, with hind limbs aiding in flight stabilization. Body size and proportions varied among species, but individuals were generally compact, with wingspans around roughly 0.6 to 1.2 meters.

Ecology and feeding are inferred from its dentition and jaw shape; the teeth and snout suggest a piscivorous or fish-eating diet, possibly supplemented by small invertebrates. Dorygnathus species would have inhabited environments such as coastal or floodplain settings where fish were available.

Scientific significance lies in its place among early pterosaurs, illustrating the diversity of dental and axial adaptations in the first major wave of pterosaur evolution. Described in the 19th century from European fossil sites, Dorygnathus remains an important reference point for understanding the morphology and ecology of early flying reptiles.