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Scaphognathus facts for kids

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Scaphognathus
Temporal range: Late Jurassic, 155.7–150.8Ma
Scaphognathus crassirostris cast - Pterosaurs Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs.jpg
Cast of the holotype specimen
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Family: Rhamphorhynchidae
Subfamily: Scaphognathinae
Genus: Scaphognathus
Wagner, 1861
Type species
Pterodactylus crassirostris
Goldfuss, 1831
Species
  • Scaphognathus crassirostris (Goldfuss, 1831)
Synonyms
  • Pachyramphus Fitzinger, 1843 (preoccupied)
  • Brachytrachelus Giebel, 1850 (preoccupied)
  • Pterodactylus crassirostris Goldfuss 1830
  • Pachyrhamphus crassirostris Fitzinger 1843 preoccupied
  • Ornithocephalus crassirostris Wagner 1851
  • Brachytrachelus crassirostris Giebel 1852 preoccupied
  • Rhamphorhynchus crassirostris Wagner 1858
ScaphognDB
A drawing of a Scaphognathus

Scaphognathus (say "SCAF-og-NAY-thus") was a type of flying reptile called a pterosaur. It lived a very long time ago, during the Upper Jurassic period. This was about 155 to 150 million years ago! Its fossils were found in a famous place in Germany called the Solnhofen Limestone.

Scaphognathus had wings that stretched about one meter wide. That's about the length of a baseball bat! It also had a long tail that ended in a shape like a leaf. This leaf-shaped tail probably helped it steer and balance while flying, much like a rudder helps a boat. Scientists think Scaphognathus flew mostly during the day. Another pterosaur, Rhamphorhynchus, might have been more active at night.

What Did Scaphognathus Eat?

Scaphognathus was a carnivore, meaning it ate meat. Its main food was a type of ancient fish called Pholidophorus. Imagine it swooping down to catch fish from the water!

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See Also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Scaphognathus para niños

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