Image 'Anhanguera blittersdorffi'

TLF ID M002738

This is a model skeleton of 'Anhanguera blittersdorffi', a flying reptile with a wingspan of 4 m. It was a member of the pterosaur group, carnivorous flying reptiles with skin-covered wings.





Educational details

Educational value
  • 'Anhanguera' lived 112-99 million years ago in the Cretaceous period. Its name, pronounced ann-yang-wear-ah, means 'old devil'. The fossils of 'Anhanguera' were discovered in Brazil.
  • Palaeontologists who have studied the fossils of 'Anhanguera' have discovered a great deal about its flying ability. To take off, it would run into the wind on its hind legs, with its large leathery wings folded; once it gained sufficient speed, it would leap into the air and spread its wings. 'Anhanguera' had thin light bones, which would have kept its weight low - an important feature for a flyer. It had a keeled sternum like a bird, which meant it would have had flight muscles, important for flapping its wings. Its wings could tilt to provide lift when taking off and act as a brake when landing.
  • 'Anhanguera' had long sturdy jaws, with a crest on top of its snout. This feature may have provided stability as 'Anhanguera' snatched fish from the sea as it skimmed the surface. It would then have used its small needle-like teeth to ensure its catch didn’t fall out of its mouth during flight. This was important because 'Anhanguera' pointed its head at an angle towards the ground during flight.
Year level

5; 10

Other details

Contributors
  • Contributor
  • Name: Museum Victoria
  • Organization: Museum Victoria
  • Description: content provider
  • Address: Victoria
  • Resource metadata contributed by
  • Name: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Organisation: Education Services Australia Ltd
  • Address: AUSTRALIA
  • URL: www.esa.edu.au
Access profile
  • Generic
Learning Resource Type
  • Image
Rights
  • © Museum Victoria and Curriculum Corporation 2009 (except where otherwise indicated). You may view, display, print out, copy and modify this material for non-commercial educational purposes provided you retain all acknowledgements associated with the material.