Balaenognathus (meaning "bowhead whale jaw") is an extinct genus of ctenochasmatid pterosaurs from the Late Jurassic Torleite Formation of Bavaria, Germany.

[1] The Balaenognathus holotype specimen, NKMB P2011-633, was discovered in sediments of the Torleite Formation, dated to the upper Kimmeridgian–Tithonian ages of the late Jurassic period, near Wattendorf, Bavaria, in southern Germany.

[1] The third method Martill et al. proposed, gular pumping, is similar to some extant dabbling ducks, where the mouth produces an active water current.

The musculus depressor mandibulae would open the mouth using the retroarticular process as a lever, creating suction to draw water in at the front.

Since the jaw curvature may have caused water loss at the front, this could be compensated by an increased swallowing capacity through a vertical downward movement of the powerful tongue.

[1] Martill et al. (2023) recovered Balaenognathus as a member of the Ctenochasmatidae, as the sister taxon to a clade formed by Aurorazhdarcho, Gladocephaloideus, Feilongus, Moganopterus, and Lonchodectes.

Their results are shown in the cladogram below:[1] Pterodaustro Ctenochasma Eosipterus Gnathosaurus Liaodactylus Balaenognathus Aurorazhdarcho Gladocephaloideus Feilongus Moganopterus Lonchodectes

[2] Fossils belonging to crocodylomorphs, turtles (Eurysternum), rhynchocephalians (Sphenofontis), fish, and ammonites (Aulacostephanus eudoxus) have also been discovered there.