Dimorphodon fossil map
Where fossils of Dimorphodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 201 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 201 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Pterosaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 201.4–184.2 million years ago (Hettangian to Pliensbachian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Family | Dimorphodontidae |
| Named by | Owen 1859 |
| Fossil records | 3 occurrences at 3 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | UK, Mexico |
| Rock formations | Blue Lias, txn:38463, La Boca |
About Dimorphodon
Dimorphodon ( dy-MOR-fə-don) is a genus of medium-sized pterosaur that lived in Europe during the early Jurassic Period (about 201-191 million years ago). It was named by paleontologist Richard Owen in 1859. Dimorphodon means "two-form tooth", derived from the Greek di- (δι-) meaning 'two', morphḗ (μορφή) meaning 'shape' and odṓn (ὀδών) meaning 'tooth', referring to the fact that it had two distinct types of teeth in its jaws – which is comparatively rare among reptiles. The diet of Dimorphodon has been questioned among researchers, with earlier interpretations depicting it as an insectivore or a piscivore. Recent studies have suggested that Dimorphodon likely hunted small vertebrates, though it still would have consumed small invertebrates like insects.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Dimorphodon (revision 1377792288), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in.
