Rhamphorhynchus muensteri (Goldfuss 1831, von Meyer 1846, Frey and Tischlinger 2002) JME SOS 4785, is the classic species. Derived from a sister to R. longiceps it phylogenetically preceded R. gemmingi and was a sister to no. 62.

Distinct from R. longiceps the skull of R. muensteri was more gracile with a smaller upper temporal fenestra.

The vertebral column was more gracile. The cervicals were relatively shorter and did not decrease cranially. The dorsals were longer.

The sternal complex had a transverse posterior rim. The wing elements were all more gracile. Fingers II and III were subequal.

The anterior ilium was taller and longer than the posterior process. The pubis was more nearly equal to the ischium in length. The prepubis was extraordinarily long with a long anterior process. This would have greatly deepened the torso unlike any other species in this clade. The hindlimbs were relatively longer. The metatarsals were longer than the digits. Pedal 5.1 extended nearly as far as metatarsal IV.

See R. longiceps for size comparisons. See Campylognathoides C4 for a local family tree.

Elgin RA, Hone DWE and Frey E 2010. The extent of the pterosaur flight membrane. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica in press. doi: 10.4202/app.2009.0145

Goldfuss A 1831. Beiträge zur Kenntnis vershiedener Reptilien der Vorwelt. Nova Acta Academiae Leopoldinae Carolinae, Breslau and Bonn, 15: 61-128.

Peters D 2002. A New Model for the Evolution of the Pterosaur Wing – with a twist. - Historical Biology 15: 277–301.

Tischlinger H and Frey E 2002. Ein Rhamphorhynchus (Pterosauria, Reptilia) mit ungewöhnlicher Flughauterhaltung aus dem Solnhofener Plattenkalk. Archaeopteryx, 20, 1-20.

Wellnhofer P 1975a-c. Teil I. Die Rhamphorhynchoidea (Pterosauria) der Oberjura-Plattenkalke Süddeutschlands. Allgemeine Skelettmorphologie. Paleontographica A 148: 1-33. Teil II. Systematische Beschreibung. Paleontographica A 148: 132-186. Teil III. Paläokolgie und Stammesgeschichte. Palaeontographica 149: 1-30.

wiki/Rhamphorhynchus