Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs are very uncommon fossils in the Morrison, because the fragility of their thin walled bones often prevented their remains from being preserved. Despite being uncommon they are geographically widespread; indeterminate pterosaur remains have been found in stratigraphic zones 2 and 4-6. In addition to indeterminate remains, several species have been identified from both the rhamphorhynchoids (long-tailed pterosaurs) and pterodactyloids (short-tailed pterosaurs). Since the 1970s and 80s, pterosaur finds have become more common, but are still rare. Most Morrison pterosaurs have been found in marine and shoreline deposits. Pterosaur tracks have been found in both the Tidwell and Saltwash members. Morrison pterosaurs probably lived on fish, insects and scavenged dinosaur carcasses.
| Color key |
Notes Uncertain or tentative data are in ; |
| Name | Species | State | Member | Material | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Comodactylus |
C. ostromi |
|
|
1 specimen. |
Nomen dubium |
|
Dermodactylus |
D. montanus |
|
|
1 specimen. |
Nomen dubium |
|
Harpactognathus |
H. gentryii |
|
|
1 specimen. |
A large rhamphorhynchoid with a wingspan of about 2.5 m and live mass of about 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs). Harpactognathus was related to the Solnhofen genus Scaphognathus. |
|
Kepodactylus |
K. insperatus |
|
|
1 specimen. |
A large pterodactyloid with a 2.5 m (8 foot) wingspan and a live weight of about 1.5 kg (3 lbs). Kepodactylus may be related to the Asian dsungaripteroid pterosaurs. |
|
Laopteryx |
L. priscus |
|
|
1 specimen. |
Nomen dubium initially misidentified as a bird. |
|
Mesadactylus |
M. ornithosphyos |
|
|
||
|
Pteraichnus |
P. saltwashensis'* |
|
|
||
|
Utahdactylus |
U. kateae |
|
|
1 specimen. |
Nomen dubium. All that can be said for certain about its identity is that it is a diapsid reptile. |
Read more about this topic: Paleobiota Of The Morrison Formation