Figure 1. The evolutionary history of pterosaurs. Each column represents the known extent of a particular lineage with blank sections indicating gaps in the fossil record. Important fossil horizons are shown in italics and the figures on the left side indicate age in millions of years. Abbreviations: Alb, Albian; Ani, Anisian; Apt, Aptian; Bar, Barremian; Baj, Bajocian; Bat, Bathonian; Ber, Berriasian; Cal, Callovian; Cam, Campanian; Car, Carnian; Cen, Cenomanian; Hau, Hauterivian; Het, Hettangian; Kim, Kimmeridgian; Lad, Ladinian; Maa, Maastrichtian; Nor, Norian; Oxf, Oxfordian; San, Santonian; Sin, Sinemurian; Toa, Toarcian; Tth, Tithonian; Val, Valanginian.

Figure 2. The skeleton of Rhamphorhynchus (wingspan, 1 m). Wing-membranes and some of their internal fibres are shown on the left side. Abbreviations: ch, cheiropatagium; f, fibres; h, humerus; i, ii, iii, digits one to three; or, orbit; p, pelvis; pr, propatagium; sh, shoulder girdle; sk, skull; st, sternum; t, tail; up, uropatagium; v, fifth toe; wf, wing-finger.

Figure 3. Skull diversity in pterosaurs (numbers in parentheses indicate skull length). (a) Dimorphodon, Early Jurassic (0.2 m); (b) Anurognathus, Late Jurassic (0.032 m); (c) Eudimorphodon, Late Triassic (0.09 m); (d) Rhamphorhynchus, Late Jurassic (0.1 m); (e) Pterodactylus, Late Jurassic (0.085 m); (f) Ctenochasma, Late Jurassic (0.01 m); (g) Dsungaripterus, Early Cretaceous (0.4 m); (h) Anhanguera, Early Cretaceous (0.6 m); (i) Tapejara, Early Cretaceous (0.22 m); (j) Pteranodon, Late Cretaceous (1.5 m).