Anurognathus ("Without Tail Jaw") was a small rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur from the Late Jurassic Period of southern Germany. It had a wingspan of about 50 cm (20 in). They are insectivores, comparable to the modern frogmouth.
Anurognathus seems to have had a disproportionately large skull for such a small creature, but nevertheless, shows adaptations suited to an insectivorous diet. The teeth are small and sharp, and the head is wider than it is long. The eyes are also large and slightly face forwards allowing for some depth perception through what is termed as binocular vision.
Study of the eyes and the scleral rings that were inside them lead towards a crepuscular lifestyle, meaning that Anurognathus would have been most active in the twilight of the dawn and dusk. While this tiny pterosaur would have been an accomplished hunter of insects, Anurognathus may have also have been hunted itself by larger pterosaurs. By sticking to being active in the twilight, it may have had easy access to prey while avoiding being out at the same time as either diurnal or nocturnal pterosaurs.
Some Paleontologists believe that Anurognathus had a symbiotic relationship with larger animals, like sauropods, and inhabited ecological niche similar to the modern oxpecker , feeding on ectoparasites, particularly ticks, as well as insects infesting wounds and the flesh and blood of some wounds as well.
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Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Anurognathus |
Jurassic Park franchise
Anurognathus has currently not appeared in the Jurassic Park novels and films.
Video games
Anurognathus is number 107 of the Carnivore Ones that can be created in Jurassic Park III: Park Builder.
Surprisingly, it can only be kept in the ordinary enclosures used to contain the other dinosaurs, despite its very small size and ability to fly.
