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Pterosaurs ate soft-bodied cephalopods (Coleoidea).

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Fossil evidence reveals a pterosaur (Rhamphorhynchus) tooth embedded in a soft-bodied cephalopod (Plesioteuthis), indicating a rare failed predation attempt. This discovery sheds light on Late Jurassic food webs and pterosaur feeding behaviors.

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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.