From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia   (Redirected from
Pterosaurs) Jump to: navigation, search Temporal range: Late
TriassicLate Cretaceous, 210–65.5Ma Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Clade: Sauropsida Clade:
Pterosauromorpha Padian, 1997 Order: Pterosauria Kaup, 1834
Pterosaurs (/ˈtɛrɵsɔr/, from the Greek πτερόσαυρος, pterosauros,
meaning "winged lizard") were flying reptiles of the clade or
order Pterosauria. They existed from the late Triassic to the
end of the Cretaceous Period (220 to 65 million years ago[2]).
Pterosaurs are the earliest vertebrates known to have evolved
powered flight. Their wings were formed by a membrane of skin,
muscle, and other tissues stretching from the ankles to a
dramatically lengthened fourth finger.[3] Early species had
long, fully toothed jaws and long tails, while later forms had a
highly reduced tail, and some lacked teeth. Many sported furry
coats made up of hair-like filaments known as pycnofibres, which
covered their bodies and parts of