Pterosaur Fossils Reveal Diets of Fish and Squid

Recent scientific investigations have indicated that ancient flying reptiles consumed small fish and squid. According to researcher Dr. Roy Smith, the stomach contents found within fossils provided “smoking gun” evidence regarding their diets. Scientists from the University of Portsmouth and Germany’s Staatliches Museum fur Naturkunde Stuttgart conducted these discoveries, which were subsequently published in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Pterosaurs existed 182 million years ago, possessing wingspans that could reach up to 12 meters (39 feet). The research team examined the fossilized stomach contents belonging to two distinct pterosaur species: dorygnathus and campylognathoides. These creatures inhabited the early Jurassic period, with their remains discovered in what is now south-west Germany. The analysis revealed that dorygnathus consumed small fish in its final meal, whereas campylognathoides fed on prehistoric squid. Dr. Smith, affiliated with Portsmouth University’s School of Environment and Life Sciences, stated: “It is incredibly rare to find 180 million-year-old pterosaurs preserved with their stomach contents, and provides ‘smoking gun’ evidence for pterosaur diets.” This finding provides a distinctive and compelling insight into the lifestyle, dietary habits, and the ecosystems these ancient beings flourished in millions of years ago. Dr. Samuel Cooper, also from the University of Portsmouth, commented that the stomach contents informed scientists “how the animals interacted with each other.” He further remarked: “For me, this evidence of squid remains in the stomach of campylognathoides is therefore particularly exciting.” Previously, it was generally presumed that it consumed fish, much like dorygnathus, where small fish bones were identified as stomach contents. The observation that these two pterosaur species consumed distinct prey indicates they were probably specialized for varied diets. This specialization enabled dorygnathus and campylognathoides to inhabit the same environment with minimal inter-species competition for sustenance.