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What is a pterodactyl?
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Pterodactylus (from Ancient Greek πτεροδάκτυλος (pterodáktylos) 'winged finger') is a genus of extinct pterosaurs. It is thought to contain only a single species, Pterodactylus antiquus, which was the first pterosaur to be named and identified as a flying reptile and one of the first prehistoric reptiles to ever be discovered.
Jun 26, 2024 · Pterodactyl, informal term for a subgroup of flying reptiles (Pterosauria) known from the Late Jurassic through the Late Cretaceous epochs (163.5 to 66 million years ago). Their wingspans ranged from 2 to 11 meters (6.5 to 36 feet), which makes them the largest known flying animal.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jun 2, 2024 · Science ABC is a website that offers simple and engaging explanations of various science topics, from biology to philosophy. However, it does not contain any information about pterodactylus, the extinct flying reptile.
- 3 min
- Bob Strauss
- There's No Such Thing as a Pterodactyl. It's unclear at what point "pterodactyl" became the pop-culture synonym for pterosaurs in general—and for Pterodactylus and Pteranodon in particular—but the fact remains that it's this word most people (especially Hollywood screenwriters) prefer to use.
- Neither Pterodactylus nor Pteranodon Had Feathers. Despite what some people still think, modern birds didn't descend from pterosaurs such as Pterodactylus and Pteranodon, but rather, from the small, two-legged, meat-eating dinosaurs of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, many of which were covered with feathers.
- Pterodactylus Was the First Pterosaur Ever Discovered. The "type fossil" of Pterodactylus was discovered in Germany in the late 18th century, well before scientists had a firm understanding of pterosaurs, dinosaurs, or, for that matter, the theory of evolution (which was formulated decades later).
- Pteranodon Was Much Bigger Than Pterodactylus. The largest species of the Late Cretaceous Pteranodon attained wingspans of up to 30 feet, much larger than any flying birds alive today.
Mar 12, 2024 · Pterodactylus is a genus of extinct pterosaur that soared through the skies of the Late Jurassic period, approximately 150 to 148 million years ago. This pioneering species holds the honor of...
Oct 13, 2022 · The first pterosaur discovered was Pterodactylus, identified in 1784 by Italian scientist Cosimo Collini, who thought he had discovered a marine creature that used its wings as paddles,...
Aug 13, 2018 · Learn about the Pterodactylus with this in-depth profile, including this pterosaur's characteristics, behavior, and habitat.
