What is Pterodactylus?
Q: What is Pterodactylus?
A: Pterodactylus was a small pterosaur that lived in the later Jurassic period, at the same time as many dinosaurs. It was typical of the short-tailed pterosaurs.
Q: Where were the first specimens found?
A: The first specimens of Pterodactylus were found at Solnhofen in Bavaria, Germany.
Q: What type of environment did they live in?
A: Pterodactylus likely lived on small islands or along the coast of warm lagoons with high salinity levels.
Q: When was it discovered and described?
A: The first specimen was found in the 18th century, and a description published in 1784. Later, Georges Cuvier worked out that it was a flying reptile.
Q: How many specimens are known today?
A: Currently there are 30 known specimens of this genus.
Q: What other species were found alongside Pterodactylus fossils?
A: Fossils of Archaeopteryx were also found alongside those of Pterodactylus.
Q: How did these creatures feed if their environment had little life to support them?
A: It is believed that Pterodactylus may have fed in some other area away from its habitat due to its high salinity levels which would not support much life.
