Anhangueridae

Anhangueridae
Temporal range: Valanginian-Turonian,
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Restored skeleton of Tropeognathus mesembrinus in the National Museum of Brazil
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Pterosauria
Suborder: Pterodactyloidea
Clade: Ornithocheirae
Clade: Anhangueria
Family: Anhangueridae
Campos & Kellner, 1985
Type species
Anhanguera blittersdorffi
Owen, 1861
Genera
Synonyms
  • Criorhynchidae? Hooley, 1914
  • Ornithocheiridae? Seeley, 1870

Anhangueridae (alternatively called Ornithocheiridae, meaning "bird hands") is a group of pterosaurs within the suborder Pterodactyloidea. These pterosaurs were among the last to possess teeth. Members that belong to this group lived from the Early to Late Cretaceous periods (Valanginian to Turonian stages), around 140 to 90 million years ago.

Anhanguerids are generally infamous for having an enormously controversial and very confusing taxonomy. Although agreements that these animals were related, and therefore similar to istiodactylids and pteranodontians, there is still no virtual consensus over the exact content and interrelationships of this group. Anhanguerids were the most successful pterosaurs during their reign, and were also the largest pterosaurs before the appearance of the azhdarchids such as Quetzalcoatlus. Anhanguerids were excellent fish hunters, using various flight techniques to catch their prey, and were also capable of flying great distances without flapping constantly.