Genus: Cathayopterus WANG & ZHOU, 2006
Etymology: From Cathay, the old poetic name of China, and Greek, -pterus, "wing"; the suffix of pterosaur:

Species: grabaui WANG & ZHOU, 2006
Etymology: In honor of Amadeus William Grabau who studied geology of northern China for the first time in detail.

Holotype:

Locality: Dawangzhangzi Bed, Western Liaoning Province, China.

Horizon: Middle Yixian Formation.

Biostratigraphy:

Age: Early Cretaceous.

Material: Fragmentary skull.