Home Previous Random Next Search
PTERODACTYLUS
(teh-roe-dack-till-us (the p is silent and not pronounced))
meaning: "Winged finger"
Pterodactylus
Named By: Georges Cuvier in1809
Time Period: Early Tithonian, 150.8-148.5 Ma
Location: Europe. Africa
Size: Up to 1.5 meter wingspan
Diet: unavailable
Fossil(s): Dozens of specimens, some showing complete skeletons with some even including impressions of soft tissue
Classification: | Chordata | Reptilia | Pterosauria | Pterodactyloidea | Euctenochasmatia |
Also known as: | Diopecephalus kochi | Macrotrachelus longirostris | Ornithocephalus antiquus | Ornithocephalus brevirostris | Ornithocephalus kochi | Ornithocephalus longirostris | Ornithocephalus meyeri | Ornithocephalus redenbacheri | Ptenodracon brevirostris | Pterodactylus brevirostris | Pterodactylus crocodilocephaloides | Pterodactylus kochi | Pterodactylus longirostris | Pterodactylus meyeri | Pterodactylus micronyx | Pterodactylus nettecephaloides | Pterodactylus pulchellus | Pterodactylus redenbacheri | Pterodactylus scolopaciceps | Pterodactylus spectabilis | Pterodactylus suevicus | Rhamphorhynchus scolopaciceps |
About

Pterodactylus ( TERR-a-DAK-til-as, from the Greek pterodaktulos, pterodaktulos, meaning "winged finger") is an extinct flying reptile genus of pterosaurs, whose members are popularly known as pterodactyls ( ). It is currently thought to contain only a single species, Pterodactylus antiquus, the first pterosaur species to be named and identified as a flying reptile.

The fossil remains of this species have been found primarily in the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, Germany, dated to the late Jurassic Period (early Tithonian), about 150.8-148.5 million years ago, though more fragmentary remains have been tentatively identified from elsewhere in Europe and in Africa.

It was a carnivore and probably preyed upon fish and other small animals. Like all pterosaurs, Pterodactylus had wings formed by a skin and muscle membrane stretching from its elongated fourth finger to its hind limbs. It was supported internally by collagen fibres and externally by keratinous ridges.

Read more about Pterodactylus at Wikipedia
PaleoCodex is a weekend hack by Saurav Mohapatra