Aspidorhynchus is an extinct genus of large, fish-eating birds that lived during the late Cretaceous period. The only known species is Aspidorhynchus acutirostris, which was about 2.5 meters (8 feet) long and weighed around 80 kilograms (180 pounds). It had a long, thin beak that ended in a sharp hook, and its body was covered in short, stiff feathers.
Aspidorhynchus was a member of the group of birds known as enantiornithes, which were the most common type of bird during the Mesozoic era. Enantiornithes went extinct at the end of the Cretaceous period along with all other non-avian dinosaurs.
Scientists believe that Aspidorhynchus hunted for fish by swooping down from the air and snatching them out of the water with its beak. It probably used its sharp claws to help it climb trees or catch prey.
Fossils of Aspidorhynchus have been found in Europe and North America. The first fossil was discovered in 1866, and since then about 30 complete or partial skeletons have been found.