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'Anhanguera blittersdorffi' — an expert flyer

Object Description

‘Anhanguera blittersdorffi’ belonged to the group Pterosaurs which were carnivorous flying reptiles with skin-covered wings.  Its name (ann-yang-wear-ah) means ‘old devil’. The fossils of ‘Anhanguera’ were discovered in Brazil.

‘Anhanguera’ was a carnivore with a wingspan of 4 metres. ‘Anhanguera’ lived 112–99 million years ago in the Cretaceous.

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Educational Value Statement

'Anhanguera' was a fish eating pterosaur. Palaeontologists who have studied the fossils of 'Anhanguera' have discovered a great deal about its flying ability. To take off, it would have run into the wind on its hind legs, with its large leathery wings folded; once it gained sufficient speed, it would have leapt into the air and spread its wings. 'Anhanguera' had thin, light bones, which would have kept its weight low — an important feature for a flyer. It had a keeled sternum, like birds, which meant it would have had flight muscles, important for flapping its wings. Its wings could tilt to provide lift when taking off and act as a brake when landing.

'Anhanguera' had long sturdy jaws, with a crest on top of its snout. This feature may have provided stability as 'Anhanguera' snatched fish from the sea as it skimmed the surface. It would then have used its small needle-like teeth to ensure its catch didn’t fall out of its mouth during flight. This was important because 'Anhanguera' pointed its head at an angle towards the ground during flight.

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