anurognathids

Anurognathids were a family of small, enigmatic pterosaurs that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Their most striking feature was their short, anuran-like (frog-like) skull, which gave them their name. This unusual skull morphology, combined with relatively short wingspans, suggests they may have had a different lifestyle compared to other pterosaurs. Fossil discoveries have been relatively scarce, with notable specimens found in China and Germany.

The diet of anurognathids is a subject of ongoing debate among paleontologists. Some hypotheses suggest they were insectivores, preying on flying insects, while others propose they may have consumed small vertebrates. Their small size and potentially agile flight patterns could have made them effective predators of smaller prey. The exact phylogenetic position of anurognathids within the pterosaur tree is also not fully resolved, but they are generally considered to be basal within the group. Their unique characteristics make them a fascinating subject for understanding the diversity of early flying reptiles.