Pterodactyls, also referred to as Pterodactylus, is an extinct genus of pterosaurs that lived around 150 to 147 million years ago. The genus is currently known from a single species Pterodactylus antiquus. It is also the very first known pterosaur. Pterodactyls is often mistakenly confused with Pteranodon.

History and Discovery

Pterodactyls is known from more than thirty fossil samples. Most of the skeleton remains belong to the juveniles. Smaller specimens, earlier thought as different species, are now believed to be juveniles of Pterodactyls antiquus.

The first fossil remains were found in the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria in Germany. It was described in 1784, by Italian scientist Cosimo Alessandro Collini. The exact year of the specimen’s discovery is not known, but it is believed to be the earliest documented pterosaur discovery.

At first, it was first thought to be an aquatic creature. In fact, as late as 1830, a lot of the scientists used to believe that pterosaurs were aquatic creatures.

Physical Characteristics

Pterodactyls was a lightly built flying reptile with a long skull. They had a short, rounded crest on the back of their skull. Some paleontologists believe that their crest was indicative of sexual dimorphism or age. Their brain was relatively large and they probably had good eyesight. It possessed a long, curved neck; and a long, straight and pointed jaw with small, sharp teeth. Tissue impressions in few specimens are significative of the presence of both a throat pouch and pycnofibres on the neck. Like all pterosaurs, Pterodactyls had light weighed, thin wings that took shape by a leather-like tissue layer stretched from the top of the legs to the elongated fourth finger. They also had a short tail, and its bones were hollow.

Etymology

The name Pterodactyls has come from Greek words “pteron” meaning ‘wing’ and “daktulos” meaning ‘finger’. The name is thus because of its fourth fingers placed in its wing ridges.

Adaptation and Behavior

It is believed that fish might have been on the top of their diet, and their long and pointed beak was quite helpful in catching its prey. Their feeding strategies varied as their dentition changed with age. So, this helped in reducing competition between two age groups. Researchers believe that they had a semi-upright stance. They could flap their wings and fly long distances. Comparisons between Pterodactylus antiquus’ scleral rings with those of the modern-day reptiles and birds suggest that they were probably diurnal.

Interesting Facts

• In 1809, the genus was originally named “Petro-Dactyle” by Cuvier. And, the typographical error was later corrected to “Ptéro-Dactyle”.
• A small fraction of paleontologists believe that their stance was upright and they must be added in the clade of the dinosaurs.
• Pterodactyls’ growth pattern, similar to modern-day birds and crocodiles, suggests that they were cold-blooded animal.
• The genus has been depicted in movies (e.g. 2005 film Pterodactyl), online games, toy-lines, cartoons and documentary films.

List of Species and Synonyms

Pterodactylus antiquus	Valid, Type Species
Ornithocephalus antiquus	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Ornithocephalus brevirostris	Synonym of Ctenochasma elegans
Ptenodracon brevirostris	Synonym of Ctenochasma elegans
Pterodactylus brevirostris	Synonym of Ctenochasma elegans
Pterodactylus longirostris	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Macrotrachelus longirostris	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Ornithocephalus longirostris	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Pterodactylus “suevicus”	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Pterodactylus crocodilocephaloides	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Pterodactylus spectabilis	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Pterodactylus grandis	Nomen dubium, possible synonym of Rhamphorhynchus muensteri
Pterodactylus kochi	Synonym of Pterodactylus antiquus
Ornithocephalus kochi	Synonym of Pterodactylus kochi
Diopecephalus kochi	Synonym of Pterodactylus kochi
Pterodactylus meyeri	Synonym of Pterodactylus kochi
Ornithocephalus meyeri	Synonym of Pterodactylus kochi
Pterodactylus grandipelvis	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus cerinensis	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus suprajurensis	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus manseli	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus pleydelli	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus arningi	Nomen dubium
Pterodactylus maximus	Nomen dubium