[2] Originally considered a sub-family of Pteranodontidae, Nesov (1984)[3] named the Azhdarchinae to include the pterosaurs Azhdarcho, Quetzalcoatlus, and Titanopteryx (now known as Arambourgiania).

Previously it was thought that by the end of the Cretaceous, most pterosaur families except for the Azhdarchidae disappeared from the fossil record,[4] but recent studies indicate a wealth of pterosaurian fauna, including pteranodontids, nyctosaurids, tapejarids and several indeterminate forms.

[13] In another departure from typical azhdarchid lifestyles, the jaw of Alanqa may possibly be an adaptation to crushing shellfish and other hard foodstuffs.

[14] Azhdarchids are generally medium- to large-sized pterosaurs, with the largest achieving wingspans of 10–12 metres (33–39 ft),[15] but several small-sized species have recently been discovered.

This unnamed specimen (nicknamed "Dracula" by paleontologists), currently on display in the Altmühltal Dinosaur Museum in Bavaria is estimated to have a wingspan of 12–20 m (39–66 ft), although similarities to the contemporary azhdarchid Hatzegopteryx have also been noted.

Others have suggested they were more closely related to the toothy ctenochasmatids (which include filter-feeders like Ctenochasma and Pterodaustro), but this classification is largely obsolete.

Currently it is widely agreed that azhdarchids were closely related to pterosaurs such as chaoyangopterids, thalassodromids, and tapejarids, all of which belong to the superfamily Azhdarchoidea.

Radiodactylus langstoni Montanazhdarcho minor Azhdarcho lancicollis Albadraco tharmisensis Aerotitan sudamericanus Mistralazhdarcho maggii Aralazhdarcho bostobensis Phosphatodraco mauritanicus Eurazhdarcho langendorfensis Zhejiangopterus linhaiensis Wellnhopterus brevirostris Cryodrakon boreas Hatzegopteryx thambema Arambourgiania philadelphiae Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni Quetzalcoatlus northropi Topology 2: Zhou and colleagues (2024).