Pterodactyl what do they eat
Are Pterodactyls Dinosaurs? Learn More About These Prehistoric Predators
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Are Pterodactyls Dinosaurs? Learn More About These Prehistoric Predators
Dinosaurs
Sep 08, 2020
These pterrific facts will help you answer the popular question of whether pterodactyls are dinosaurs!Pterodactyls, the common name for pterosaurs, are an extinct group of winged reptiles. There was a genus of pterosaur called Pterodactylus – which is where the word “pterodactyl” comes from – but not all pterosaurs belong to this genus.
Are pterosaurs birds, dinosaurs, or mammals? The answer? D: none of the above! Because they flew and their front limbs stretch out to the sides, they are not dinosaurs. Instead, they’re a distant dinosaur cousin.
Pterosaurs lived from the late Triassic Period to the end of the Cretaceous Period, when they went extinct along with dinosaurs. Pterosaurs were carnivores, feeding mostly on fish and small animals. Many had hooked claws and sharp teeth that they used to grab their prey.
Pterosaurs evolved into dozens of individual species. Some were as large as F-16 fighter jets, while others were as small as paper airplanes.
They were also the first animals after insects to evolve powered flight. This means they didn’t just leap into the air or glide but flapped their wings to generate lift.
However, not all pterosaurs could fly. Pterodactylus flew using wings formed by a tough, thin membrane stretching along their bodies to their elongated fourth finger.
Like birds, pterosaurs had lightweight, hollow bones. Pterosaur skeletons survive as fossils only when their bodies came to rest in a very protected environment. Most pterosaur remains come from species that lived near the ocean or sea.
Many Pterodactylus fossils are preserved in Bavaria, Germany. During the Jurassic period, the region was a swampy wetland at the edge of an ancient sea.
Organisms that washed into the wetland became buried in the mud. This mud slowly hardened into limestone and the bones fossilized.
While Pterodactyls are not classified as dinosaurs, they still have a lot in common with other prehistoric predators, and we still have much to learn about them. The rarity of fossils leaves major gaps in our knowledge about pterosaurs. How did they evolve flight? Why did they vanish? What exactly did they look like? Maybe one day you’ll help find answers to these questions!
Learn more about pterosaurs with these videos or stomp into DinoDigs to learn about more prehistoric pals!
- Dinosaur Fossils at the American Museum of Natural History
- Reptiles of the Skies | Walking with Dinosaurs
- Pterosaurs 101
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What Did Pterodactyls Eat? - AZ Animals
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Pterodactyls (Pterodactylus antiquus) are extinct flying reptiles. They lived from the Late Jurassic period to the Late Cretaceous period, between 164 million and 64 million years ago. Though they might look similar, they’re actually not dinosaurs. They’re related, but distinct. Pterodactyls belong to the Pterosauria Order–a group of flying reptiles that encompasses around 30 known species. Scientists have pieced together many aspects of the behavior and life cycle of these fascinating creatures–including what they likely ate.
Here, we’ll learn more about what pterodactyls ate and how they hunted for their food. Then, we’ll compare their diets to the diets of some of their pterosaur cousins, and find out just what kinds of creatures may have competed with them for food.
Finally, we’ll take a closer look at whether or not pterodactyls (or any of their flying cousins) would have been dangerous to humans.
The Pterodactyl Diet
Pterodactyls were smaller than you might think; scientists estimate that adults were about the size of a housecat, with a wingspan under four feet. There are only a few fossil specimens of the species, but paleontologists have undertaken incredible studies to find out just what these undersized flyers ate.
Pterodactyls ate mostly invertebrates and small vertebrates; they were most likely carnivores. Given their small size, scientists can determine that their prey size was limited, but likely included any small creature unfortunate enough to find itself in the shadow of the pterodactyl.
Catmando/Shutterstock.com
Caption: Pterodactyls ate mostly invertebrates and small animals, they were likely opportunistic carnivores.
A Complete List of Pterodactyl Foods
- Fish
- Small mammals
- Insects
- Carrion
Scientists can’t be certain, but it’s also possible that pterodactyls ate small dinosaurs.
They may have even eaten other pterodactyls. What is known about their diet has been pieced together by studies on fossils of pterodactyls, as well as by comparisons with extant creatures. By comparing pterodactyls to other, modern, animals of similar size and form, they can make educated guesses as to what these extinct flying reptiles ate. It is likely, however, that they made use of whatever resources they could find, including eggs and carrion meat.
Each species of pterosaur had its own unique skull, tooth, and beak structure. This was largely determined by what that species ate. Scientists can make educated guesses about diet based on the teeth and skulls, but they can get even more information from the teeth. Microscopic studies of pterodactyl teeth reveal that they likely ate lots of insects and molluscs, beyond that, scientists can’t be certain.
How Did Pterodactyls Hunt?
Early pterodactyls likely ate mostly invertebrates, like insects and molluscs. It wasn’t until later in their evolution that scientists think their diets shifted more towards fish and small animals.
Based on the shape of their skulls, and the type of teeth they had–it’s likely that pterodactyls hunted their prey in many of the same ways that modern predatory birds hunt.
For fish, this likely meant that pterodactyls flew high overhead, watching the waters until they caught the movement of a fish near the surface. Then, in a swooping dive, they would have plummeted down on the fish from above. Before the fish knew it was in danger, it was in the pterodactyl’s mouth, held secure by their dagger-like teeth.
For terrestrial creatures, pterodactyls almost certainly hunted from the air. Their elongated wings and small back legs would have made long distance walking ungainly, and unfeasible for hunting. They probably had good eyesight, like modern bald eagles, and could see prey from high up, floating on the air currents. Once sighted, they would have swooped down from above, tackling the unfortunate creature with teeth and claws.
What Did Other Pterosaurs Eat?
Ekaterina Glazkova/Shutterstock.
com
Pterodactyls only grew to about the size of a golden eagle, and could eat only small prey. But, other members of the pterosauria order grew bigger–much bigger.
One such relative was the Quetzalcoatlus northropi, a species of pterosaur that had a wingspan over thirty feet. But, scientists aren’t actually sure if this giant pterosaur actually flew. Little is known about them, but based on the weight of their skeletons, some scientists think that they acted (and hunted) more like today’s storks and cranes.
Quetzalcoatlus had a long, sharp bill similar to modern hornbills. It’s estimated that they fed on small creatures like mammals and other birds. Instead of flying to great heights, like pterodactyls likely did, these giants probably only glided short distances. They would have been able to eat larger prey than the pterodactyl, and may even have preyed on a pterodactyl or two.
What Animals Competed With Pterodactyls?
Birds lived right alongside dinosaurs.
They shared the skies with pterodactyls, and scientists think they probably competed for food sources. Some scientists even think that this competition drove pterodactyls to branch out in terms of their diet. Some became fish specialists, while others became terrestrial prey specialists, all because of competition with birds.
Because so little is known about pterodactyls, scientists can’t say for sure whether they competed with dinosaurs for food or not. But, they occupied the same habitats as dinosaurs–many of which would have been happy to raid a pterodactyl nest, or make a meal of a resting pterodactyl adult.
Pterodactyls likely had to keep their nests safe from other creatures–this means they probably took some care of their young. Modern birds feed their young until they’re old enough to leave the nest, and it’s possible that pterodactyls did the same thing with their little ones. They would have fed them regurgitated meals of insects, invertebrates, and small creatures.
Could A Pterodactyl Eat a Human?
Hollywood might portray pterodactyls as huge and bloodthirsty, but, in fact–they were small, and probably ate about the same things as a modern hawk. They would have posed no danger to humans. Even the larger Quetzalcoatlus northropi likely wouldn’t have preyed on, or eaten, humans.
| Perhaps the most mentioned flying pangolin in the history of paleontology. At the same time, it bears the title of the first named and described pterosaur. The Latin name Pterodactylus comes from a pair of ancient Greek words - winged finger. It is based on the amazing structure of the body of pterosaurs: the fourth finger of the forelimbs was greatly elongated and served as a mount for the leathery wing. Business card
Time and place of existenceThere were pterodactyls at the end of the Jurassic period, about 150.8 - 148.5 million years ago (the first half of the Tithonian stage). They were distributed in the territory of modern Germany.
American paleoartist Nobu Tamura sees a pterodactyl soaring above the abyss. Types and history of discoveryNow the only species generally recognized is Pterodactylus antiquus , respectively, being the type. This was the first flying lizard to be given a name and a scientific description. A superficial description of the pterodactyl was made by the Italian scientist Cosimo Alessandro Collini back in 1784 on the basis of a fossil skeleton discovered in a Solnhofen limestone quarry near the city of Eichstät (Bavaria, Germany) around 1780. Pterodactyl passed the criterion of mystery. This is not surprising, because at that time classical science was in its infancy, and a lot of medieval traditions were mixed with it. Oddly enough, this opinion was common among some scientists until 1830. The key moment of history is the description of the famous French paleontologist Georges Cuvier, where the general idea of the flight of pterodactyls was finally formed. In an 1809 paper, he named the genus Petro-Dactyle . But it had a simple misprint, and Cuvier later corrected it to Ptero-Dactyle . Its holotype was BSP no. AS.I.739. In 1812, the German paleontologist and anatomist Samuel Thomas Sömmering gives a description of the same specimen, but in accordance with scientific terminology he names the species Ornithocephalus antiquus .
In Zdeněk Burian's classic illustration, we can see an active flock of pterodactyls fishing near the shore. More than 27 pterodactyl fossils are known to date, many of them nearly complete. However, it is important to note that these are mostly young individuals. The latter fact was the reason for the mass of not entirely accurate reconstructions of the past two centuries. Only recently discovered specimens with well-preserved soft tissues made it possible to finally fully restore the image of the pterodactyl. Body structure The wingspan of the pterodactyl reached 1.
Adult (green) and subadult (blue) compared to a human. As can be seen from the skeletons of pterodactyls, the forelimbs were much longer than the hindlimbs, and half of each was an overgrown fourth finger. The fact is that it was a light but strong frame for the wing membrane. The latter consisted of thin muscles covered with skin. From the inside, they were reinforced with collagen fibers, and from the outside they were supported by a keratin sheath. The generally thin but strong membranes of the wide wings allowed for free soaring using generous air currents. But could pterodactyls flap their wings effectively? So far, no clear model of takeoff and flight has been proposed even for small pterosaurs, not to mention huge ones. In our opinion, they certainly could, otherwise the effectiveness of the wings is reduced to zero. Moreover, pterodactyls could quite easily take off from a place, including from the surface of the sea. Perhaps, if we choose analogues among them, then the classical flight of the albatross is the closest: the bird does not make sharp movements with its wings, but smoothly flaps them in a short arc. In between a bunch of strokes, she hovers freely, which can be seen in the video clip below. Isn't it a fascinating sight? Without a doubt, the flight of pterodactyls was no less beautiful. However, the albatross does not have such a huge head, along with a neck, so this is only a fragment of the big picture. On land, the pterodactyls moved slowly, clumsily waddling on all fours. After all, the wings had to be folded and, when moving, rely on three bent fingers: in such an uncomfortable position, you cannot develop serious speed. But they swam, most likely, much better: in any case, the membranes on their legs could serve as flippers. Pterodactyl has a very long head, the main part of which is occupied by narrow straight jaws. The total length of the skull sometimes reached 20 cm. This genus still retains small teeth-needles designed to pierce nimble prey (see reconstructions below). Recent finds indicate that there was a leathery crest at the back of the adult's head. However, it was not found in the cubs: it manifested itself gradually, with the maturation of the individual. Pterodactyls had excellent eyesight, thanks to which they could see from the air the movement of fish near the surface of the water. The neck of these flying lizards is elongated and flexible. The body is extremely light and, against the background of outstretched wings, seems like an insignificant spot of flesh. It was covered with light down, which is not found on the wings themselves. The body of the pterodactyl ended in a very short tail, which did not carry any special functions.
Detailed 3D model of a pterodactyl by Estonian artist Raul Lunia. Pterodactyl SkeletonThe photo shows an exhibit of the species Pterodactylus antiquus from the American Museum of Natural History (New York, USA).
Below is a skeletal reconstruction by American sculptor Bruce Mohn. The skull is visible in detail.
Below is a graphic reconstruction from the paleo-artist Archosaurian. From left to right: side, bottom and top view. Nutrition and lifestyle During the Late Jurassic, the Solnhofen region was part of a vast archipelago on the edge of the ancient Tethys Ocean. Calm currents were filled with a variety of fish. And the cozy islands of life, dotted with freshwater streams, became the refuge of small flying dinosaurs, dinosaurs and even the first birds. It is not surprising that pterodactyls also chose this place. Naturally, their main food was small fish, the silhouettes of which they were able to see even from a considerable height. Hungry pterosaurs glided to the water surface and snatched their prey with long jaws with thin needle-shaped teeth. In addition to fish, a variety of amphibians, lizards and insects were eaten. The pterodactyls themselves sometimes also became victims of predators. The fact is that on the ground, flying lizards were rather slow and clumsy, which could be used by crept theropods. For example, adult compsognaths were able to attack very young pterodactyls that were on the shore. In the air, they could be attacked by other kinds of flying lizards, such as rhamphorhynchus. Neighbor pterosaurs
Other pterodactyls
Neighboring carnivorous dinosaurs
Article author: ArgusEye
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It is curious that he presented the pterodactyl not as flying, but as a waterfowl animal. At the same time, the author practically did not rely on the anatomical details of the creation, but only used a subjective idea of the biosphere: in his opinion, the most mysterious creatures lived in the depths of the ocean. 
However, Cuvier has the right to take precedence in the naming of the genus, so the species is now called Pterodactylus antiquus. At the beginning of the article, we explained the name of the pterodactyl, while the name of the species antiquus is translated from Latin as "ancient". Indeed, at the time of discovery, this creature cut through one of the starting "portals" to the world of the Mesozoic. 
04 meters. Body length about 50 centimeters. The height is up to 25 cm. He weighed up to 2 kilograms. 
Another thing is that the mechanics are radically different from those of ordinary birds. 
And this is not surprising, since it was necessary to descend into the water quite often. 
Pterodactyl bird or dinosaur? - Children's online encyclopedia "I want to know everything"
The very first animals on our Earth, most likely, were unicellular marine organisms.
Since there were no hard tissues in their body, the prints could not be preserved. The most ancient organisms lived about 600 million years ago. Some of them looked like worms or plants, while others, like crustaceans, had a hard head shield. Pterodactyl is the first animal of the genus of flying lizards that lived on the border of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods . It resembles a bird with large wings and a sharp beak.
Most of the pterodactyls were quite large, and their body was incredibly light, due to the fact that the bones themselves were light and hollow. This made it possible for these lizards to fly easily using their webbed wings. The wings of the pterodactyl themselves were such a kind of skin fold, attached to the bones of the wrist and to the fourth finger, and resembled the wings of bats. Hence the name of these dinosaurs, translated pterodactyl means "fingerwing".
I would also like to note that pterodactyls were highly organized animals and often gathered in flocks.
These dinosaurs could range in size from the smallest, such as a sparrow, to an absolutely gigantic animal that could reach 12 meters in wingspan. It is believed that they clung to the rocks, then pushed off and glided in height, while not forgetting to fish from the surface of the sea. The paws of the pterodactyl had fingers, which made it possible to grab fish directly from the water, on the fly. Of course, large representatives could eat fish, and the small ones were mostly insects.
As already mentioned, pterodactyls clung to the rocks with their paws and repelled, taking off. It is curious that just like that, from the ground, they could not at all rise to the top, into the air, they certainly had to climb a tree, rock or cliff. And only from a certain height, they dived down, spread their wings and thus could fly.
Moreover, these lizards were excellent at climbing trees, mountains and rocks, but they practically could not move on land , that is, they could, of course, but it was given to them with great difficulty.
