Full article: Dietary tendencies of the Early Jurassic pterosaurs Campylognathoides Strand, 1928, and Dorygnathus Wagner, 1860, with additional evidence for teuthophagy in Pterosauria

CONCLUSIONS

Fossilized gut contents are described for the Toarcian non-monofenestratan pterosaurs Campylognathoides and Dorygnathus, based on two well preserved skeletons revealing the former to have fed on belemnoid teuthids, and the latter on small actinopterygian fishes.

These specimens represent the first records of pterosaur gut contents from the Toarcian Posidonia Shale, and the only identifiable remains of a pterosaur meal known from the Early Jurassic.

Campylognathoides is the only pterosaur known to have predated on belemnoids, and represents additional evidence for teuthophagy in Pterosauria. Belemnoid hooklets in the gut of Campylognathoides are identified as belonging to Clarkeiteuthis conocauda, a belemnoid teuthid with inferred vertical migration behavior, meaning that in order to catch this elusive prey, Campylognathoides may have hunted nocturnally.

Although based on just two specimens, it is suggested that the differences in gut contents between these two Toarcian pterosaur genera may reflect niche partitioning, with teuthophagy in Campylognathoides and piscivory in Dorygnathus.

Trophic partitioning is supported by the very different skull and dental morphologies seen in these two taxa, but our suggestion for a nocturnal lifestyle for Campylognathoides requires further scrutiny. The somewhat larger orbit of Campylognathoides may lend some support to this, as yet, tentative conclusion.