The earliest known ctenochasmatid remains date to the Late Jurassic Kimmeridgian age.

Previously, a fossil jaw recovered from the Middle Jurassic Stonesfield Slate formation in the United Kingdom, was considered the oldest known.

This specimen supposedly represented a member of the family Ctenochasmatidae,[4] though further examination suggested it actually belonged to a teleosaurid stem-crocodilian instead of a pterosaur.

Anders found that three subfamilies fall within the Ctenochasmatidae: Ctenochasmatinae, Gnathosaurinae and Moganopterinae, while also including several basal genera.

[6] "Pterodactylus" micronyx Liaodactylus Ctenochasma Pterodaustro Beipiaopterus Gegepterus Kepodactylus Elanodactylus Feilongus Moganopterus Ardeadactylus Huanhepterus Plataleorhynchus Gnathosaurus