Dimorphodon
Dimorphodon was a prehistoric flying pterosaur from the early Jurassic period. It had a big head, a small brain, a tall beak, and two types of teeth. Variation in teeth is rare in pterosaurs.
| Dimorphodon Temporal range: Lower Jurassic
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Fossil
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| Genus: | Dimorphodon Owen, 1859
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Like Rhamphorhynchus, Dimorphodon is only found in Jurassic strata. It was the first pterosaur found in England, by Mary Anning, in 1828.[1]
Most of the known specimens were found in the Jurassic chalk of the south coast of England in the 19th century. Another species of Dimorphodon has been found in La Boca Formation in Tamaulipas, Mexico, from the Lower Jurassic.[2]
Dimorphodon Media
Dimorphodon macronyx
D. macronyx holotype specimen, NHMUK PV R 1034
Dimorphodon macronyx. Skull and parts of the skeleton: nat. size. From the Lower Lias of Lyme Regis. In the British Museum.
Cast of D. macronyx specimen NHMUK PV OR 41212
Life restoration of the Early Jurassic species Dimorphodon macronyx with fully adducted humeri and parasagittal gait, shown here facilitating subcursorial, rapid terrestrial locomotion in pursuit of sphenodontian prey.
reconstruction of Dimorphodon by Harry Seeley, 1901
Dimorphodon macronyx skeleton*from Dragons of the Air 1901 United States
References
- ↑ Buckland W. (1 January 1829). On the discovery of a new species of Pterodactyle in the Lias at Lyme Regis. Transactions of the Geological Society of London. s2-3 (1): 217–222.
- ↑ Clark J.M.; Hopson J.A.; Hernández R., R.; Fastovsky D.E.; Montellano M. 1998. Foot posture in a primitive pterosaur. Nature. 391 (6670): 886–889. [1]