Writing last week in the journal Paläontologische Zeitschrift, researchers detail the discovery of its nearly complete skeleton from a quarry in Germany.
Called Balaenognathus maeuseri, the species’ generic (first) name means “bowhead whale jaw” in Latin.
Megan Jacobs
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It was discovered by accident. Researchers were digging for crocodile bones when they stumbled upon the pterosaur.
Its remains were tucked inside a limestone slab and date back to the Late Jurassic period.
“...some of the teeth have a hook on the end, which we’ve never seen before in a pterosaur ever.
These small hooks would have been used to catch the tiny shrimp the pterosaur likely fed on – making sure they went down its throat and weren’t squeezed between the teeth.”
-David Martill, primary study author, in a press release.
Only one other pterosaur species is known to have more teeth than Balaenognathus.
Pterodaustro, which lived in modern-day Argentina, boasted a mouthful of 1,000 chompers.
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Megan Jacobs
But Balaenognathus’ skinny, hooked teeth are unique to its species — and showcase a feeding style that still exists in many animals today.