Description
The original material of Ornithocheirus simus, recovered from England, indicates a mid-sized species with a wing span of 2.5 m (8 ft). Referred specimens attributed to Ornithocheirus simus (alternately called Criorhynchus simus) can reach 5 m (16 ft). Tropeognathus mesembrinus is also usually considered a part of the Ornithocheirus genus as O. mesembrinus, and reached over 6 m (20 ft) in wingspan.
Both O. simus and O. mesembrinus bore distinctive convex "keeled" crests on their snouts. The upper crests arose from the snout tip and extended back to the nostril. An additional, smaller crest projected down from the lower jaw at the symphysis ("chin" area). While many ornithocheirids had a small, rounded bony crest projecting from the back of the skull, this was particularly large and well-developed in Ornithocheirus.
Unlike the related Anhanguera and Coloborhynchus, which had an expanded rosette of teeth at the jaw tips, Ornithocheirus had straight jaws that narrowed toward the tip. Also unlike related pterosaurs, the teeth of Ornithocheirus were mostly vertical, rather than set at an outward-pointing angle. They also had fewer teeth than related species.
The type specimen of Ornithocheirus simus is represented only by a broken piece of the upper jaw tip. While it does preserve several characteristic features of Ornithocheirus, it is nearly identical to comparable bones in o. mesembrinus, making clear distinction between these two species impossible.
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