皮翼龍的正模標本(編號YPM 2000)是一個右手的第四掌骨,只有末端部分,是由塞繆爾·溫德爾·威利斯頓(Samuel Wendell Williston)發現於懷俄明州科莫崖。皮翼龍是北美洲第一個發現、命名的翼龍類[1]。奧塞內爾·查利斯·馬什(Othniel Charles Marsh)最初將牠們歸類於翼手龍屬的一個種(P. montanus)[2],後來將牠們建立為獨立的屬;種名在拉丁文意為「來自山脈的」。馬什曾將一些手部骨頭、牙齒、脊椎、肩胛骨、鳥喙骨歸類於皮翼龍[3],但這些化石過大,與皮翼龍的原始化石不符合[4]。
皮翼龍屬於翼手龍亞目,但由於只有一塊手部骨頭,詳細的分類關係仍不確定[5]。在2003年,肯尼思·卡彭特(Kenneth Carpenter)根據該骨頭的形狀,認為皮翼龍不屬於鳥掌翼龍科;鳥掌翼龍科通常具有頭冠、大型牙齒、短尾巴[6]。由於化石稀少,皮翼龍目前是個疑名[6][7][8][9]。在大衛·安文(David M. Unwin)的近期翼龍類研究中,並沒有提到皮翼龍[10]。
^ 6.06.1Carpenter, Kenneth; Unwin, David M.; Cloward, Karen; Miles, Clifford A.; and Miles, Clark. A new scaphognathine pterosaur from the Upper Jurassic Formation of Wyoming, USA. Buffetaut, Eric; and Mazin, Jean- Michel (eds.) (编). Evolution and Palaeobiology of Pterosaurs(PDF). Geological Society of London, Special Publications, 217. London: Geological Society of London. 2003: 45–54 [2007-03-02]. ISBN 1-86239-143-2.引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)[永久失效連結]
^Glut, Donald F. Dermodactylus. Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia. 4th Supplement. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. 2006: p. 598. ISBN 0-7864-2295-5. 引文格式1维护:冗余文本 (link)
^King, Lorin R.; Foster, John R.; and Scheetz, Rodney D. New pterosaur specimens from the Morrison Formation and a summary of the Late Jurassic pterosaur record of the Rocky Mountain region. Foster, John R.; and Lucas, Spencer G. (eds.) (编). Paleontology and Geology of the Upper Morrison Formation. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 36. Albuquerque, New Mexico: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. 2006: 149–161.引文使用过时参数coauthors (帮助)
^Foster, John R. Paleoecological Analysis of the Vertebrate Fauna of the Morrison Formation (Upper Jurassic), Rocky Mountain Region, U.S.A.. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin, 23. Albuquerque, New Mexico: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. 2003: p. 37. 引文格式1维护:冗余文本 (link)