Pterodactylus was a pterosaur, a type of flying reptile. It was not a dinosaur, though it lived during the same period. Pterodactylus lived during the Late Jurassic and resided in Africa and Europe. The first Pterodactylus fossil was discovered in 1815.

Quick facts about Pterodactylus:

  • Existed from 201.3 million years ago to 136.4 million years ago
  • Lived in a limestone
  • Was a piscivore
  • Could fly
  • 12 different specimens have been found by paleontologists

All the Pterodactylus illustrations below were collected from the internet. Enjoy and explore:

Pterodactylus was described by the following scientific paper(s):
  • P. Gervais. 1873. Chapitre III. Remarques au sujet des reptiles provenant des calcaires lithographiques de Cerin, dans le Bugey, qui sont conservés au Musée de Lyon [Chapter III. Remarks on subject of the reptiles found in the lithographic limestones of Cerin, in Bugey, that are kept in the Musée de Lyon]. Annales de la Société d’Agriculture, Histoire Naturelle et Arts Utiles de Lyon, quatrième série 5:79-85
  • E. Fraas. 1908. Ostafrikanische Dinosaurier [East African dinosaurs]. Palaeontographica 55(61):105-144
  • C. Brauckmann. 1978. Beitrag zur Flora der Grube Guimarota (Ober-Jura; Mittel-Portugal). Geologica et Palaeontologica 12:213-222