Abstract: The Solnhofen pterosaurs Pterodactylus antiquus , Aerodactylus scolopaciceps , Diopecephalus kochi , Germanodactylus cristatus and Germanodactylus rhamphastinus all have complicated taxonomic histories. Species originally placed in the genus Pterodactylus , such as Aerodactylus scolopaciceps , Ardeadactylus longicollum , Cycnorhamphus suevicus and Germanodactylus cristatus possess apomorphies not observed in the type species of Pterodactylus , and consequently have been placed in new genera. The affinities of another Solnhofen pterosaur previously placed in Pterodactylus , Diopecephalus kochi , are less clear. It has been proposed that D. kochi is a juvenile specimen of Pterodactylus antiquus , or perhaps ‘ Germanodactylus rhamphastinus ’ specimens are mature examples of D. kochi . Furthermore, studies have suggested that ‘ Germanodactylus rhamphastinus ’ is not congeneric with the type species of Germanodactylus. Geometric morphometric analysis of prepubes and a cladistic analysis of the Pterosauria elucidate plesiomorphic and apomorphic conditions for basal Jurassic pterodactyloids. Germanodactylus is found to be a monotypic genus and Pterodactylus , Diopecephalus , and ‘ G. rhamphastinus ’ are found as distinct taxa belonging in individual genera, diagnosable using a combination of characters. Thus, Diopecephalus kochi is not demonstrated to be congeneric with Germanodactylus or Pterodactylus and is maintained as a valid taxon. ‘ G. rhamphastinus ’ is readily distinguishable from other Solnhofen pterosaur taxa, and a new genus is erected for its reception. Supplementary material: Technical details of the mechanical theory behind this article are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3809401.v1