The concept was inspired by the discovery of Darwinopterus, a species combining a pterodactyloid-type skull with a more basal build of the remainder of the body.

[1] The Darwinoptera, a primitive subgroup of monofenestratans showing this transitional anatomy, was also named for Darwinopterus and defined as all descendants of its common ancestor with Pterorhynchus.

Identified elements include cervical vertebrae, fourth metacarpals and a possible pterodactyloid synsacrum.

[3] An earlier undescribed taxon along with the coeval and corregional Allkaruen may also belong to the group, both reported from Middle Toarcian layers of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation of Argentina.

[2] Sordes Pterorhynchus Wukongopteridae Changchengopterus Anurognathidae Archaeopterodactyloidea Eupterodactyloidea Contrastingly, a 2024 paper by David Hone and colleagues describing the transitional taxon Skiphosoura found primitive monofenestratans to represent an evolutionary grade leading towards Pterodactyloidea, rather than a distinct darwinopteran or wukongopterid grouping.