Rhamphorhynchus | Facts & Information

Rhamphorhynchus was a long-tailed flying dinosaur that lived in the Mesozoic era, during the Upper Jurassic period. Fossil remains of this prehistoric animal were discovered in Germany at the beginning of the century. it was first described by paleontologist C. E. Hermann von Meyer in 1847 and named Rhamphorhynchus muensteri.

Based on the analysis of the largest Rhamphorhynchus skeleton found to date, the length of this dinosaur was estimated to be 1.26 m, the weight of 2 kg and the wingspan of 0.5-1.8 m.

Rhamphorhynchus dinosaur had a long tail that was three times longer than the trunk and was provided at the end with a terminal formation of oval shape in younger specimens and triangular shape in adult specimens, with the role of Helm. The body was covered with thick, light-colored fur, which was meant to protect it from the cold and to ensure a good camouflage.

The body was also warmed by the heat of the sun during the time when the dinosaur kept its wings open. The skin was crossed by blood vessels, muscle tissue that had a role in regulating body temperature. It seems that the wings developed from the forelimbs (as the researchers believe), the patagium extended through the fourth finger longer and reached to the hind limbs, leaving free only their paws, provided with sharp claws.

Head

The skull was thin and long, with its jaws arched upwards, provided with very sharp teeth, so ordered that they passed each other, and which by closing the mouth managed to crush the fish or insects on which it fed.

The weight of the body was much reduced due to the fact that the bones were hollow and also had small holes connected with the air bags of the lungs. This ensures constant oxygen circulation as well as temperature regulation, cooling the body during the flight.

Due to the large wingspan, this dinosaur managed to hover very easily in flight, and on the ground to adopt both bipedal and quadrupedal gait. This dinosaur probably had an anterior lobe of the brain that was well developed and helped it coordinate its movements very well in flight. On the ground it moves more slowly, its limbs being rather weak, but in flight it had the ability to reach a high speed and then let itself be carried by the wind.

Food

Rhamphorhynchus mainly fed on fish.