Dimorphodon
A medium-sized pterosaur with two tooth types and short wings.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Dimorphodon is a genus of medium-sized pterosaur that lived in Europe during the early Jurassic Period, approximately 201–191 million years ago. Named by paleontologist Richard Owen in 1859, its name means 'two-form tooth,' referring to its possession of two distinct types of teeth in its jaws, a trait rare among reptiles. The first fossils were discovered in England by Mary Anning in 1828, and the genus has since been the subject of ongoing debate regarding its diet and flight capabilities.
- lived
- Early Jurassic (about 201–191 million years ago)
- named_by
- Richard Owen in 1859
- field
- Paleontology
- known_for
- Having two distinct types of teeth; being a medium-sized pterosaur with proportionally short wings and a large, lightweight skull
Lore & Background
The first fossil remains now attributed to Dimorphodon were found in England by fossil collector Mary Anning at Lyme Regis in Dorset in December 1828. The specimen was acquired by William Buckland and reported in a meeting of the Geological Society on 5 February 1829. Buckland initially classified it in the genus Pterodactylus, coining the species Pterodactylus macronyx. In 1858, Richard Owen reported two new specimens that included skulls, and in 1859 he assigned the species its own genus, Dimorphodon. An additional species, D. weintraubi, was named in 1998 from a partial skeleton found in Mexico, though later studies considered it not closely related to Dimorphodon macronyx.
Reader's Guide
Dimorphodon holds significance in pterosaur paleontology as an early example of a pterosaur with distinct tooth types, a feature that has fueled debate about its diet. Earlier interpretations depicted it as an insectivore or piscivore, but recent studies suggest it likely hunted small vertebrates, though it still would have consumed small invertebrates. Its body structure displays many primitive characteristics, including a very small brain-pan and proportionally short wings, which indicate it was a rather poor flyer, relying on frantic short flights rather than sustained soaring. The discovery of its fossils by Mary Anning and its naming by Richard Owen connect it to key figures in 19th-century paleontology. The species D. weintraubi from Mexico, though later reclassified, highlights the genus's broader geographic and temporal range. Dimorphodon's classification has been debated, with some analyses placing it among the most basal pterosaurs, while others consider it less basal.
Did You Know?
- Dimorphodon means 'two-form tooth,' derived from Greek words for 'two,' 'shape,' and 'tooth.'
- The first Dimorphodon fossils were discovered by Mary Anning in December 1828 at Lyme Regis, England.
- Dimorphodon had a wingspan of 1.45 meters (4.6 feet) and an adult body length of 1 meter (3.3 feet).
- Recent studies suggest Dimorphodon likely hunted small vertebrates, though it may also have eaten insects.
More in Extinct Archosaurs 1-24
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