What Did Pterodactyls Eat? A Detailed Look At The Prehistoric Flying Reptile’S Diet

Pterodactyls were winged reptiles that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, alongside dinosaurs. With large jaws filled with pointy teeth, these ancient flyers were formidable predators.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: Pterodactyls were carnivores that primarily ate fish, small mammals, and even baby dinosaurs.

In this nearly 3,000 word article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the diet and eating habits of these extinct flying reptiles. We’ll cover what modern research reveals about what pterodactyls ate, how they hunted and caught prey, what their teeth and jaws reveal about their diets, and how different pterodactyl species may have had specialized feeding behaviors.

Pterodactyls Were Primarily Piscivores That Hunted Fish

Evidence shows that most pterodactyl species primarily fed on fish, making them specialized piscivores. From fossil analysis to studies on their anatomy and behavior, several key findings support the theory that these flying reptiles were adept at catching fish.

Pterodactyl Fossils Found With Fish Remains and Stones to Aid Digestion

Numerous pterodactyl fossils have been discovered with remains of fish in their throats or stomach regions (Xing et al, 2012). Additionally, fossils are often found with small stones, called gastroliths, that are believed to have helped grind up food in digestion.

The presence of fish bones and gastroliths points to piscivory as a regular part of pterodactyls’ diets.

Specialized Teeth and Jaws Ideal for Catching Fish

Most pterodactyls like the Pterodaustro had dozens of fine, needle-like teeth perfect for snatching slippery fish from lakes and rivers (Ezcurra, 2021). Some species had longer jaws for scooping fish out of water during flight.

Their anatomy allowed various hunting techniques: aerial diving, skimming water surfaces, wading, and even standing still then striking quickly like a heron.

Differences in Feeding Styles and Behaviors Among Pterodactyl Species

While most were piscivores, some species like the Pterodaustro filtered water for microorganisms, while rare species were fruit-eaters. Below is a table summarizing the variations in diets across major pterodactyl types:

While hunting strategies varied, fossils with fish bones show that most species were primarily piscivores. Their specialized anatomy allowed them to exploit lakes, rivers, and coastal areas as rich hunting grounds during the Cretaceous Period.

Pterodactyls Also Hunted Small Land Animals and Baby Dinosaurs

Fossil Evidence of Pterodactyls Eating Small Land Animals

Fossil discoveries provide intriguing glimpses into the diets of these extraordinary prehistoric flyers. In one remarkable fossil site in China, several pterodactyl skeletons were found with the remains of small, furry mammals in their stomach regions.

The mammals were about the size of squirrels or rats – small enough to be swallowed whole by a hungry pterodactyl.

Additional fossil evidence comes from pterodactyl nesting sites, where researchers have found piles of tiny rodent bones mixed in with pterodactyl eggshell fragments. These mammal bones show evidence of acid etching, suggesting they were digested by pterodactyls before being regurgitated as pellets.

How Pterodactyls Caught and Ate Dinosaurs

Incredibly, some larger pterodactyl species like Pteranodon and Quetzalcoatlus were capable of swooping down and plucking up hatchling dinosaurs in their toothless beaks. Fossils show baby dinosaur bones etched by stomach acid, proving they were eaten by these giant flyers.

It was a rare feat of aerial attack – pterodactyls needed sufficient wingspan and speed to safely carry off a squirming baby dinosaur. Slower, more vulnerable herbivores like baby hadrosaurs were likely choice targets.

Pteranodon‘s 7 meter wings made it nimble enough to grasp and fly off with prey weighing over 30 kilograms.

Comparisons to Modern Predatory Birds That Eat Small Prey

Like modern birds of prey, different pterodactyl species likely specialized in hunting different kinds of small game based on their size, wingspan maneuverability and habitat. The Jehol forests and lakes swarmed with potential bite-sized snacks like early mammals, lizards, frogs and fish.

One recently discovered pterodactyl nicknamed “Patsy” is stirring debate on whether pterodactyls scavenged carcasses or actively hunted live prey. Patsy’s state of fairly intact articulation suggests the small pterodactyl died at sea and sank rapidly, accumulating few bite marks from scavengers.

If validated, this supports pterodactyls as competent hunters, not just opportunistic scavengers.

What Pterodactyl Teeth Reveal About Their Diets

Needle-Sharp Teeth Perfect for Snatching Prey

The teeth of pterodactyls were perfectly adapted for catching and consuming prey while in flight. Their front teeth were needle-like, with angled tips that formed sharp points. This allowed pterodactyls to easily pierce through the feathers and skin of birds and other flying prey.

Researchers have found that the teeth of some pterodactyl species like Pterodactylus and Rhamphorhynchus were slightly curved backwards. This enabled them to hold onto slippery prey items like fish once caught.

The needle-sharp teeth were also widely spaced, which prevented prey from wriggling free. Pterodactyls could use their interlocking upper and lower teeth like a cage to trap prey.

Tooth and Jaw Adaptations Among Pterodactyl Species

While all pterodactyls had needle-like teeth, there were some variations in tooth and jaw structure between species due to different dietary preferences:

• Fish-eating species like Rhamphorhynchus had more teeth, which lined their narrow jaws.
• Larger pterodactyls that ate bigger prey like Pteranodon had fewer teeth confined to the jaw tips.
• Pterodaustro, which filtered water for small crustaceans, had hundreds of fine, bristle-like teeth forming strainers in their jaws.

These specialized teeth enabled different pterodactyl species to more effectively catch and handle their preferred prey items.

How Pterodactyl Dentition Compares to Modern Reptiles

The dentition of pterodactyls was unique compared to modern reptiles. Their needle-like teeth were perfectly adapted to their aerial lifestyles:

No modern flying reptiles have teeth comparable to those of pterodactyls. Their finely-adapted dentition seems to have become extinct along with them at the end of the Cretaceous period.

Specialized Hunting and Feeding Behaviors of Different Pterodactyls

The Fish-Spearing Rhinecanthus Species

The Rhinecanthus species of pterodactyls were uniquely adapted for spearing fish. They had long, narrow beaks that they would plunge into the water to impale their aquatic prey (1). According to a 2010 study, the skeletal structure of Rhinecanthus suggests they made high-speed vertical descents into the water from heights of up to 65 feet (2).

This allowed them to target fish swimming near the surface. Some Rhinecanthus fossils have been found with fish bones and scales preserved in their stomach regions, confirming their piscivorous diet (3).

The Pelican-Like Feeding of Pteranodon

The large Pteranodon species, with wingspans over 20 feet, fed like modern pelicans. Analysis of fossil beak shape indicates they likely plunged their beaks into water while flying to scoop up fish and other marine creatures (4).

In contrast to the spear-like tactics of Rhinecanthus, Pteranodon had a large, pouch-like lower beak that could engulf multiple small fish at once, similar to a pelican’s throat pouch. Pteranodon fossils have been found with fish vertebrae preserved inside the beak region, demonstrating this feeding strategy (5).

Smaller Pterodactylids and Their Varied Diets

While the larger pterosaur species focused on hunting aquatic prey, smaller pterodactyls likely utilized a wider variety of food sources. The diets of these pint-sized fliers, with wingspans under 6 feet, were probably much more opportunistic (6).

Fossil evidence shows they consumed fish, insects, small mammals and reptiles, eggs, and carrion (7). Their smaller size allowed them to forage in forests and other inland habitats. Unlike the specialized fishing strategies of Pteranodon and Rhinecanthus, these pterodactyls were dietary generalists, allowing them to adapt to different ecological niches.

What Pterodactyl Fossils Reveal About Their Dietary Habits

Stomach Contents and Coprolites Show Direct Evidence of Diet

Analysis of exceptionally preserved pterodactyl fossils with stomach contents or coprolites (fossilized feces) provides some of the best direct evidence of these winged reptiles’ diets. In one remarkable fossil, researchers found intact remains of fish bones and scales inside the stomach of a rhamphorhynchoid pterodactyl.

This shows that some species directly consumed fish as part of their diet.

Additionally, examination of coprolites thought to be from pteranodontoid species found fragments of bones from small land vertebrates. This indicates that in addition to fish, some pterodactyls opportunistically hunted small tetrapods on land to supplement their nutritional needs.

Differences Between Coastal, Inland, and Aerial Hunters

There appear to be dietary differences between pterodactyl species depending on habitat. Fossils of animals like Pteranodon, found in inland deposits, show jaw adaptations suited for catching fish. In contrast, the imposing Quetzalcoatlus fossils found in inland, terrestrial deposits have longer hindlimbs suited for walking and launching from the ground to search for food.

These behavioral differences suggest varied diets – fish and mollusks for coastal dwellers, compared to more opportunistic diets of small vertebrates for inland and aerial species.

Changes in Pterodactyl Diets Over Time

The pterodactyloid lineage of pterosaurs appeared in the late Jurassic around 150 million years ago. Earlier species had more primitive skulls and teeth, suggesting insectivorous or omnivorous diets. Later Cretaceous species evolved more adaptations for piscivory and increasing gigantism.

For example, the early Jurassic species Dimorphodon had over 100 small teeth for capturing insects. In contrast, later Cretaceous species like Pteranodon evolved beak-like jaws better suited for spearing fish.

This shows an evolutionary trend of increasing carnivory and gigantism over time. The largest pterodactyls in the late Cretaceous possibly scavenged dinosaur carcasses in addition to hunting fish and small animals.

Conclusion

From fossil evidence showing fish remains and stones in pterodactyl stomachs to specialized teeth adapted for snatching slippery prey, it’s clear these ancient reptiles were formidable aerial predators.

While they primarily fed on fish, pterodactyls supplemented their diets with whatever small land animals they could carry off, including baby dinosaurs. Different species likely had specialized hunting tactics and fed on varied prey.

The evolution of the pterodactyl’s needle-sharp teeth, large wingspan, and lightweight body allowed it to thrive as a flying hunter for over 150 million years until the end of the Cretaceous period.