pterosaur

Imagine a creature gliding through the sky in the age of dinosaurs, but not actually being a dinosaur. That's what this word usually refers to. These animals were flying reptiles that lived at the same time as dinosaurs, in sizes from very small to truly huge. They flew with skin wings stretched mainly from one very long finger to the side of the body. You might see this word in books about prehistoric life, museums, or nature shows about the ancient world.

Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, the age of dinosaurs, from roughly 228 to 66 million years ago. They are often called "flying dinosaurs," but that is not quite correct. They lived alongside dinosaurs, yet they belonged to a separate group called Pterosauria.

Unlike birds, pterosaurs did not fly with feathered wings. Their wings were made from a membrane of skin and other tissues stretched mainly from a very long fourth finger to the body, and in many species to the legs as well. This body plan let them soar, glide, and in many cases flap through the air very effectively.

Pterosaur fossils have been found on every continent, showing that they came in many forms and lived in many environments. Some ate fish near coasts and lakes, some hunted on land, and some may have scavenged. Famous examples include Pterodactylus and Quetzalcoatlus. The largest known kinds were among the biggest animals ever to fly.

The study of pterosaurs helps scientists understand how flight evolved and what ancient ecosystems were like. When you read about fossil discoveries involving strange flying reptiles or see pictures of prehistoric skies, this is often the group being shown. The word comes from Greek roots meaning "wing" and "lizard." So when you picture the age of dinosaurs, it is worth remembering that these remarkable flying reptiles were part of that world too.