The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rhamphorhynchus \Rham`pho*rhyn"chus\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. "ra`mfos a beak + ???? snout.] (Paleon.) A genus of pterodactyls in which the elongated tail supported a leathery expansion at the tip.
Wikipedia
Rhamphorhynchus (, "beak snout") is a genus of long-tailed pterosaurs in the Jurassic period. Less specialized than contemporary, short-tailed pterodactyloid pterosaurs such as Pterodactylus, it had a long tail, stiffened with ligaments, which ended in a characteristic diamond-shaped vane. The jaws of Rhamphorhynchus housed needle-like teeth, which were angled forward, with a curved, sharp, beak-like tip lacking teeth, indicating a diet mainly of fish; indeed, fish and cephalopod remains are frequently found in Rhamphorhynchus stomachal contents, as well as coprolites.
Although fragmentary fossil remains possibly belonging to Rhamphorhynchus have been found in England, Tanzania, and Spain, the best preserved specimens come from the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, Germany. Many of these fossils preserve not only the bones but impressions of soft tissues, such as wing membranes. Scattered teeth believed to belong to Rhamphorhynchus have been found in Portugal as well.
Rhamphorhynchus may refer to:
- Rhamphorhynchus, a genus of pterosaur
- Rhamphorhynchus, a former monotypic genus of orchid, containing only the species now called Aspidogyne mendoncae
Usage examples of "rhamphorhynchus".
Quetzalcoatlm and the Rhamphorhynchus had had Annihilators, too, each costing over a trillion credits.
A chalkboard listed the day's specials: hogget stew, baked adag in cream sauce, and grilled rhamphorhynchus with garlic butter.