What type of prehistoric flying bird was a Pterodactyl? The genus name is actually Pterodactylus which is pronounced 'ter-o-dac-til-us'. The Pterodactyl pronunciation is 'ter-o-dac-til'. They are called Pterodactyloids or Pterodactyls. They lived during the same time period but were winged reptiles. How intelligent were they? 2 Pterodactyl Interesting Facts Was the Pterodactyl a dinosaur? If you like reading about the Pterodactylus, also check out interesting facts about the Ludodactylus and the Tupuxuara. Birds of today have not evolved from Pterodactyls and instead are successors of terrestrial dinosaurs of the time. Pterodactyls were carnivorous animals that fed on fish and small animals (vertebrates and invertebrates) as their pointed teeth were similar to those found in carnivores. Fossils were considered to be juveniles and the only adult specimen consists of a solitary skull. 30 fossils have been found in limestone formations. Their remains were first found in Bavaria, Germany. Thin and hollow bones gave structure to the body and wings. Their hind limbs ended in four fingers and their front limbs ended in fingers that evolved into membranous wings. Juveniles had crests made of soft tissue on their skulls, which subsequently hardened as the Pterodactylus grew older. They had a long, narrow, pointed skull, with sharp elongated teeth lining their straight jaw.

While they were not dinosaurs or related to them, they coexisted in the same geological time period as many dinosaurs and competed for the same resources. Pterodactyls lived during the Late Jurassic period. The Pterodactylus antiquus, also called the Pterodactyl, was a Pterosaur genus of flying carnivorous reptiles. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount.

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Pterodactyl wingspan