Pterodactylosaurs, best known as flying reptiles, gained a foothold in the late Jurassic period, while their close relatives, the suborder BeakedOsaurus, became extinct. Pterodactyls survived the Cretaceous Period, but only a few survived to that time. These pterosaurs had essentially the same structure as previous beaked-billed dragons, but had a shorter tail, longer neck, and a little longer skull. The pterodactyl suborder consists of everything from the smallest known pterosaurs to some of the largest flying vertebrates ever recorded.
Name: Pterodactyl ( Flying Reptile )
Age: Late Jurassic
Location: Africa (Tanzania) and Europe
Continents (England, France and Germany)
Size: Wingspan up to 75 cm
Pterodactyls had all the typical characteristics of the pterodactyl suborder. It has a short tail, a long neck and an extremely long metacarpal bone, and a fourth long finger supports its broad wings.
Many pterodactyls have been found, each with a different head size and shape. The species shown here is Pterodactylosaurus with a narrow, long jaw and sharp teeth used to swallow fish.