Robust Keel Jaw


Tropeognathus robustus

(Wellnhofer, 1987)

    Another species of the genus, Tropeognathus, T. robustus is larger than T. mesembrinus, and has a more angular crest.  Like T. mesembrinus, T. robustus fishes by skimming over the water and running it's prow-shaped head close under the surface (Wellnhofer 127-128).  When it hits a fish, large teeth skewer the fish and the beak snapps shut.  The differences in the shape of the beaks of T. robustus and T. mesembrinus, perhaps indicates the differing fishing habits of the species.

Thanks to Ray Stanford, of cource
Other sites containing pertinent information:

• The Pterosaur Homepage's Tropeognathus page.  (with a great deal of information and a skeletal reconstruction)
• T. Mike Keesey's Tropeognathus page.  (some information with my picture)
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs, by Dr. Peter Wellnhofer, published in 1991 by Salamander Bookd Limited.