Palaeontology of SW Germany 3.1.13: Hauff pterosaurs!

Finally, some non-marine animals The Lias does hold a few; those that fell into the sea include even a sauropod (Ohmdenosaurs). The vast majority, though, are pterosaurs.

Sadly, most specimens are lightened with spotlights that make photography very hard. Instead, there are some really nice models, brightly painted. Here’s the first, photoshopped version of one of the photos I took, and as a HDR attempt, trying to even out the lighting.

Campylognathoides liasicus, irritatingly still labelles Campyloganthus liasicus. Wingspan about a meter. Shame, shame, it is a cast of a specimen that has found its way to Pittsburgh. At least the life models are nice – although my current guest at the MfN, Dave Hone of Archosaurmusings, has some issues with the feet.

cute lil’ pterosaur babies….

note how one is trampling ll over its sibling in the haste to get at the insect the adult brought.

On to the next one – I only have one horrible photo, because of the glass cupboard reflecting spotlights etc there was only one angle that I could really use. I removed the perspective, so it does look kinda OK, but it really isn’t.

another Campy, another cast – this original is at the SMNS. A bigger one, with a wingspan of about 230 cm.

interestingly, both specimens are labelled as C. zitteli, but the Pittsburgh one is definitely C. liasicus. Hmm….. This is a bit of a problem at the Hauff museum: labels are not to be trusted, as many are not really up to date.

finally, a belly view of the model:

On for the next genus – in this case there is only one species and thus the identification is certain. Dorygnathus banthensis it is, with a wingspan of a good meter (105 cm). A rhamphorhynchid, which even I can see from the teeth and tail.

here’s one of the reconstructions that go with it, I have no idea who the painter is. Both Dave Hone and I think this is familiar, but it might just look a bit too Luis-Rey-ish and trick me.

There are two models of D., dive-bombing fish. Fittingly, one has roundels of the style seen on RAF planes.

and that’s all there is! Rare as pterosaur specimens are, they are pricey, and thus in the past were quickly sold to the highest bidder. Accordingly, they got spread around a lot. The same is true for ichthyosaurs, but nobody really takes notice of the fact given the plethora of specimens to be seen in SW German museums.

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