Page 111 - Prehistoric Animals

Ter-O-Dac-Tilus

Pterodactylus

Pterodactylus (winged finger) is an extinct genus of ptero-
saurs*, it was on the planet from the Late Jurassic period (Tithonian
stage), about 150 to 148 million years ago. It was relatively small with
a wingspan of about 3 to 5 ft and weighed around 2 to 10 pounds. It
was named by, Georges Cuvier in 1809 and was the first pterosaur to
be named and identified as a flying reptile and one of the first prehis-
toric reptiles to ever be discovered.

Pterodactylus, in comparison with other pterosaurs, was small;
many liken its size to a large modern day seagull. It was lightly built,
with hollow bones and a long curved neck and short tail. Its adult
skull was long and thin and fossil records show it had a large brain.
As with most flying predators it would have had good eyesight. Its
beak was long, thin and straight. It was lined with around ninety nee-
dle-sharp teeth that were longer at the front tip of the beak, and grew
progressively shorter along the length of the beak to the back.

Like many other genera in the group pterosaurs, Pterodactylus
had a head crest. This crest has been extensively studied and the re-
sult of this has led to several species, at first thought to be of the ge-
nus Pterodactylus, being moved to another genus. However, like so
many animals with head crests, the function of this crest is a mystery.

Dealing with the different sized crests found in a species, the
‘general’ categorization is as such; the large crests would signify an
adult male; the smaller crests; either a female or juvenile. With Ptero-
dactylus, however, most of the fossils with crests are thought to be, or
identified as, juveniles. No fossil has ever been actually identified as
an adult Pterodactylus. Could it be than, that a much bigger Pterodac-
tylus is out there, just waiting to be discovered?

Pterodactylus was a carnivore and probably flew over the sur-
face of the seas plucking fish from the waves. Its wings consisted of
skin and muscle membrane stretching from its elongated fourth fin-
ger to its hind limbs. So whether they were able to withstand the force
of Pterodactylus diving into the water is open to speculation. It is
known, however, birds similar to Pterodactylus were prone to eating
insects, even small animals. There is no evidence to exclude Pterodac-
tylus, when sea food was scarce, from doing the same.

* A group or clade of extinct reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a bird-
like beak and membranous wings supported by the very long fourth digit of each forelimb.
Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved powered flight.