Pterodactylus - (pronounced ter-oh-DAK-til-us)

Pterodactylus was a pterosaur, a small, flying reptile, with a wingspan of about 50–75 cm (20–30 inches), that lived on lake shores during the Late Jurassic Period. It was a carnivore and probably preyed upon fish and other small animals.

 

Like all pterosaurs, Pterodactylus's wing stretched from its last finger to its torso. It was supported internally by collagen fibres and externally by keratinous ridges.

It was lightly built, with hollow bones, a long, curved neck, a long skull (with no crest), a long, pointed beak, many small teeth, a small body, and a very short tail. It had a relatively large brain and good eyesight. The skull was about 2.4 inches (6 cm) long.

Pterodactyloid wings were covered by a leathery membrane. This thin but tough membrane stretched between its body, the top of its legs and its elongated fourth fingers, forming the structure of the wing. Claws protruded from the other fingers. Pterodactylus could flap its wings and fly with power. Pterodactylus would fly very long distances.

Pterodactyloids were reptiles, but not dinosaurs. By definition, all dinosaurs were diapsid reptiles with an upright stance. Pterosaurs probably had a semi-upright stance. There is a small minority of paleontologists who think that the pterosaurs' stance could have been upright and that pterosaurs should therefore be included in the dinosaur group (being derived theropods). Either way, dinosaurs and pterosaurs are certainly closely related.

Fossils have been found in Tanzania, England, France, and Germany.

The name derives from the Greek words ptero (meaning 'winged') and dactyl (meaning 'finger') and refers to the way in which the wing is supported by one large finger. The genus was originally named Ptero-dactyle by Georges Cuvier in 1809.

Scientific Classification:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Sauropsida

Order: Pterosauria

Suborder: Pterodactyloidea

Family: Pterodactylidae

Genus: Pterodactylus