DIMORPHODON
Dimorphodon macronyx
Meaning: "Two-Form Tooth"
📊 STATS
Size comparison:
About as long as a small dog, like a Jack Russell Terrier!
📖 ABOUT DIMORPHODON
Meet Dimorphodon, the 'Two-Form Tooth' dino-bird! This Jurassic flyer zipped through the skies looking for tasty fish. Get ready to explore the world of this amazing reptile!
Imagine soaring through the Jurassic skies! That’s what Dimorphodon, a type of pterosaur, did! Its name, 'Two-Form Tooth,' comes from the fact that it had two different kinds of teeth in its jaws – some pointy for grabbing and some flatter for crushing. Discovered by the amazing Mary Anning in 1828 in England, Dimorphodon lived around 195 million years ago.
This cool creature was about 1 meter long and had a wingspan that helped it glide and swoop down to catch its favorite meal: fish! It's thought Dimorphodon was a pretty fast flyer, reaching speeds of up to 30 kilometers per hour. Its large head and beak helped it scoop up slippery snacks from the water. While we don't know exactly how strong its bite was, those different teeth suggest it was good at both catching and eating its prey.
Dimorphodon belonged to a group called Dimorphodontidae, which means it was a bit different from other pterosaurs of its time. Its discovery gives us a great peek into the early Jurassic period and the fascinating creatures that filled the skies!
🔬 CLASSIFICATION
- Group
- Pterosauria
- Family
- Dimorphodontidae
- Period
- Early Jurassic (201-174 Ma)
- Era
- 195.0 - 190.0 million years ago
🗺️ DISCOVERY
- Year
- 1828
- Discovered by
- Mary Anning
- Location
- Dorset, England
- Fossils found in
- England
🎨 SCIENTIFIC ILLUSTRATION
Artistic reconstruction of Dimorphodon based on fossil evidence
🗺️ WHERE FOSSILS WERE FOUND
England
🤓 FUN FACTS
- ✨ Dimorphodon's name means 'Two-Form Tooth' because it had different kinds of teeth in its mouth!
- ✨ It was discovered by Mary Anning, a famous fossil hunter, way back in 1828!
- ✨ Dimorphodon lived during the Early Jurassic period, almost 200 million years ago!
- ✨ This dino-bird loved to eat fish and was a great flyer!
- ✨ Even though it could fly, Dimorphodon might have also been able to walk on all fours!
💡 DID YOU KNOW?
Get this! Scientists think Dimorphodon might have used its large head like a rudder to help it steer while flying. Imagine using your head to change direction in the sky!
