Back to dinosaur directory
Tropeognathus

Dinosaur profile

Tropeognathus

Tropeognathus mesembrinus

CarnivoreCretaceousPterosaurs

Pronunciation

Trop-e-o-nay-fuss

Meaning

Keel jaw

Type

Pterosaurs

Length

8.2M

Period

Cretaceous

Years

125 - 100 million years ago

Location

Brazil

Diet

Carnivore

About Tropeognathus

Tropeognathus is a genus of pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Brazil. It is known from a single specimen that includes a partial skull and a partially complete skeleton. Tropeognathus was a large pterosaur, with an estimated wingspan of around 8-9 meters. It had a long, narrow skull with a sharp, pointed beak and a distinctive crest on the top of its head. The wings of Tropeognathus were supported by long, slender fingers, and it had long, powerful legs and feet, which it likely used to run and take off from the ground. Tropeognathus is thought to have been a carnivore, feeding on small reptiles and possibly even small mammals. It was likely a agile and efficient hunter, using its wings to pursue prey on land or in the air.

Wikipedia image gallery

Extra reference images from Wikimedia projects. These are loaded live in your browser.

More Cretaceous profiles

Explore related dinosaurs with similar diet, type, period, or fossil location to Tropeognathus.

Browse all dinosaurs