Pterosaurs ate soft-bodied cephalopods (Coleoidea).

Area of Science:

• Paleontology
• Marine Biology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Direct evidence of predation in the fossil record is scarce.
• Understanding extinct food webs requires evidence of predator-prey interactions.
• Soft-tissue preservation provides unique insights into ancient life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the first evidence of a failed predation attempt by a pterosaur on a coleoid cephalopod.
• To reconstruct the feeding behavior of the pterosaur Rhamphorhynchus.
• To analyze the interaction between Rhamphorhynchus and Plesioteuthis.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a fossil specimen from the Late Jurassic Solnhofen Archipelago.
• Examination of a soft-tissue coleoid (Plesioteuthis subovata) associated with a pterosaur tooth (Rhamphorhynchus muensteri).
• Ultraviolet light examination to confirm tooth-tissue association and phosphatization.

Main Results:

• A Rhamphorhynchus tooth was found embedded in the soft tissue of Plesioteuthis.
• The tooth's position suggests a direct predatory attack near the water surface.
• Exceptional soft-tissue preservation is attributed to sinking into oxygen-depleted waters.

Conclusions:

• Rhamphorhynchus likely preyed on aquatic animals by snatching them from the water surface.
• This finding provides rare direct evidence of pterosaur feeding strategies.
• The study enhances our understanding of Late Jurassic marine ecosystems and predator-prey dynamics.