Definition of
Pterodactyl
A pterodactyl it’s a extinct flying animal. It’s about a prehistoric reptile which, according to the fossils found in various regions, had membranes similar to those currently found in bats.
- General characteristics
- His discovery
- Differences according to their development
- groups by age
- Related Topics Tree
General characteristics
Pterodactyls lived about 150 million yearsin the period Jurassic. His remains have been found in different areas of the European continent and of Africa.
It is estimated that the pterodactyl measured approximately 1.5 meters and had an elongated skull, with almost a hundred teeth in its mouth. Its wings, meanwhile, could measure one meter and were membranes made up of muscle and fur.
To move on the surface, pterodactyls crawled on their hind legs while supporting their wings. As for his flight, scientists think it was slow Due to the aerodynamic characteristics of the species.
It should be noted that these reptiles were carnivores. It is believed that they fed mainly on invertebrate species and fish.
It can serve you: Wings
His discovery
The discovery of fossilized pterodactyl eggs allowed the development of a study that yielded enlightening results on this animal. For specialists, pterodactyls resorted to community nests to raise their offspring. The young, on the other hand, could walk at birth, although they were not prepared to fly due to the lack of development of their legs. at.
It is important to mention that pterodactyls were not dinosaurs, but were part of different evolutionary groups. The crocodiles and the snakes they are among the closest living relatives of these long-extinct reptiles.
See also: Relative
Differences according to their development
As we can see in other pterosaurs found by paleontologists, pterodactyls often exhibit marked differences in their physical characteristics according to their age or how mature they were at the time of death. there are several the factors that vary in the fossils of these animals, and among them we can highlight the following: the number of teeth; the size of the body; the shape and size of the skull; the proportions of its extremities.
Throughout history, this particularity has led to the confusion of the fossils of different ages or stages of growth with remains of different species or, rather, as evolutions of the same. It was only after scientists carried out in-depth studies with advanced methods that they were able to understand that it was a single species, and that its individuals simply showed a growth curve with many changes.
Regarding the number of teeth, today we know that pterodactyls had very few in their youth (the minimum number known up to now is fifteen) and that its base was quite broad. Over the years, the base narrowed and the number multiplied until it exceeded the ninety teeth.
Continue on: Hominid
groups by age
Three groups of pterodactyls have been established according to their age, something that was cemented in differences and changes aforementioned. Let us begin with the first group, whose specimens have skulls of a length ranging from 15 to 45 mm.
These dimensions increase to double in the second group, which contains pterodactyls whose skulls can measure between 55 and 95 millimeters. It should be noted that we are still in a stage of relative immaturity; in fact, although at one point in history some of them were classified as “adults”, scientists eventually determined that all of them are immature.
In the third group are those belonging to the species Pterodactylus antiquusthe only one currently recognized and others that at the time were part of the Pterodactylus kochi. Even specimens in this group are considered immature, as paleontologists have never found an adult or fully developed.
See also: Length