Rhamphorhynchus fossil map
Where fossils of Rhamphorhynchus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 145 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 145 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 | 159–143.1 million years ago (Oxfordian to Tithonian) |
| Periods | Jurassic |
| Family | Rhamphorhynchidae |
| Named by | Meyer 1847 |
| Fossil records | 30 occurrences at 16 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Germany, Portugal, Tanzania, UK |
| Rock formations | Solnhofen, Solnhofener Plattenkalk, Painten, Altmühltal, Liegende Bankkalk, txn:38470 |
About Rhamphorhynchus
Rhamphorhynchus (, from Ancient Greek rhamphos meaning "beak" and rhynchus meaning "snout") is a genus of long-tailed pterosaurs in the Jurassic period. Less specialized than contemporary, short-tailed pterodactyloid pterosaurs such as Pterodactylus, it had a long tail, stiffened with ligaments, which ended in a characteristic soft-tissue tail vane. The mouth of Rhamphorhynchus housed needle-like teeth, which were angled forward, with a curved, sharp, beak-like tip lacking teeth, indicating a diet mainly of fish; indeed, fish and cephalopod remains are frequently found in Rhamphorhynchus abdominal contents, as well as in their coprolites.
Although fragmentary fossil remains possibly belonging to Rhamphorhynchus have been found in England, Tanzania, and Spain, the best preserved specimens come from the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, Germany. Many of these fossils preserve not only the bones but impressions of soft tissues, such as wing membranes and probably pycnofibers. Scattered teeth believed to belong to Rhamphorhynchus have been found in Portugal as well.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Rhamphorhynchus (revision 1374731843), 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. Wikidata: Q132647.
