Anurognathus / Cascocauda (Anurognathidae)

Anurognathus was a small pterosaur from the late Jurassic period, known for its friendly and "cute" appearance, and likely exhibited crepuscular or nocturnal behavior. Measuring about 50 cm in wingspan and weighing less than 200 grams, it was one of the smallest known pterosaurs. Its short, broad skull, with large, forward-facing eyes, suggests excellent night vision. Its thin, sharp teeth were specialized for catching insects in flight, occupying an ecological niche very similar to that of a modern bat.

Its body was compact, with a reduced and flexible tail—unlike older pterosaurs. Pycnofibers, hair-like structures, likely covered its body, providing thermal insulation and allowing for color variations adapted to the forest environment in which it lived.

Inhabiting the forests of Jurassic Europe, Anurognathus demonstrated that not all pterosaurs were large coastal gliders: some were small, agile, and highly specialized, playing delicate ecological roles very different from the giants of the Mesozoic skies.