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pterodactylus

📅 Updated:2025-11-18
🕒 Created:2025-11-13
🆔 ID:85714

Description

You are probably looking for one of these:

  • pterosaur - "Pterodactyl" previously redirected to pterodactylus. Pterodactyl is a slang term that is used to refer to all pterosaurs. Please do not tag pterodactylus on posts that do not depict Pterodactylus.
  • pteranodon - Most pop culture depictions of a "pterodactyl" more closely resemble Pteranodon.
  • quetzalcoatlus - Also a popular pterosaur species, commonly mislabeled as a pterodactyl.
This is a generic pterodactyl/pterosaur:
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Pterodactylus is a genus of extinct pterosaur that contains one known species, Pterodactylus antiquus. It is a small pterosaur, with a wingspan of only 1.05 meters [3.5ft]. It is known for its small size, a short tail, a straight beak with small teeth, and a lack of a large bony crest on the back of its head. Scientists currently believe that Pterodactylus possessed a smooth, soft tissue crest on its head, due to lack of bone evidence of a hard crest. At least one specimen of Pterodactylus has been observed to possess a feature called an occipital lappet, which is a flexible tab-like structure on the back of the head which may be part of the crest.
Common depictions of a generic "pterodactyl" in media commonly represent a hooked or straight beak with sharp teeth, a large bony/pointed head crest on the back of the head, and a long tail optionally ending with a spade. These depictions are by and large not meant to represent Pterodactylus, and should just be given a generic pterosaur tag instead.
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