Coloborhynchus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coloborhynchus |
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| Holotype jaw fragment of C. clavirostris in multiple views | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
| Family: | †Ornithocheiridae |
| Subfamily: | †Ornithocheirinae |
| Genus: | †Coloborhynchus Owen, 1874 |
| Type species | |
| †Coloborhynchus clavirostris Owen, 1874
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| Other species | |
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Coloborhynchus was a type of pterosaur, which were flying reptiles that lived a long, long time ago. Its fossils have been found in England and Brazil, in rocks from the Early Cretaceous period. This amazing creature was similar to other pterosaurs like Anhanguera and Ornithocheirus.
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What Made Coloborhynchus Special?
The first Coloborhynchus fossil ever found was just a part of its upper jaw. Scientists can tell it apart from its relatives because of how its teeth were placed.
Unique Teeth Arrangement
In Coloborhynchus, the two front teeth pointed forward. They were also higher up on the jaw than the other teeth. The next three pairs of teeth pointed out to the sides. The last two pairs of teeth in this fossil pointed downwards. There was also a special oval dip right below the first pair of teeth. This unique setup helped scientists identify Coloborhynchus.
The Giant Coloborhynchus capito
One possible species, Coloborhynchus capito, might have been the largest pterosaur with teeth ever known! A fossil from the Cambridge Greensand in England shows a huge upper jaw tip. This jaw tip has the special teeth that help identify C. capito.
How Big Was It?
The jaw tip itself was almost 10 centimeters (about 4 inches) tall. It was also 5.6 centimeters (about 2.2 inches) wide. The teeth at the base were up to 1.3 centimeters (about half an inch) across. If this pterosaur had the same body shape as other Coloborhynchus species, its whole skull could have been up to 75 centimeters (nearly 30 inches) long! This would mean it had a wingspan of about 7 meters (23 feet), which is super big!
Images for kids
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Lithograph of the C. clavirostris holotype
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Holotype and referred specimen of the possible species C. capito
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1914 illustration of the C. clavirostris holotype with dotted lines reconstructing worn away jaw margin
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Life restoration of the possible species C. fluviferox
See also
In Spanish: Coloborhynchus para niños
