Page 150 - The Dinosaur Book and Other Wonders of the Prehistoric World (DK-Smithsonian)

Early

pterosaurs

A bony extension of the skull
supported a crest that was probably
only a feature of the males. Fossils of
apparent females do not have crests.

Darwinopterus
Darwinopterus had
a longer neck and skull
than earlier pterosaurs.

A long, bony tail was
Rhamphorhynchus a distinctive feature of all
had a spearlike beak with early type pterosaurs; later
long, needle-shaped teeth. ones had much shorter tails.

Dimorphodon

Scaphognathus

The long fourth finger
bone was sturdy to
support the entire length
of the outer wing.

The giant dinosaurs shared their world strengthened with springy fibers and contained
with close relatives called pterosaurs— sheets of muscle that continually adjusted the
flying reptiles that flew on wings of wing’s shape to make it work as efficiently as
stretched skin. Their wings were similar possible. Pterosaurs had small, furry, and light
to those of bats, but supported by the bones bodies; excellent eyesight; and relatively big
148 of just one hugely elongated finger. They were brains. The earliest ones found so far—

US_148-149_Early_Pterosaurs.indd 148 10/04/18 4:00 PM