SOLNHOFEN, GERMANY

Details

A PTEROSAUR
SOLNHOFEN, GERMANY
from the Jurassic (circa 150 million years ago) the complete skeleton of Rhamphorhyncus muensteri placed in ammonite-bearing matrix
41 x 30in. (105 x 79cm.)

Special notice

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Lot Essay

From the order Pterosauria "flying-lizards" that includes the pterodactyls, this large flying dinosaur with a 50-inch wingspan is one of the largest and rarest found in the Solnhofen formation. A light-weight body with hollow bones made it perfectly adapted to life in the air above the Jurassic coast. On very rare occasions they would have fallen into muddy lagoon below, to be preserved and turned to stone over the millions of years. The name Rhamphorhynchus means "beak-snouted" and with its fearsome set of teeth it would have preyed upon the fish of the Solnhofen fauna.

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