Pterodactylus

Pterodactylus (/ˌtɛrəˈdæktᵻləs/ TERR-ə-DAK-til-əs, from the Greek πτεροδάκτυλος, pterodaktulos, meaning "winged finger") is a genus of pterosaurs, whose members are popularly known as pterodactyls ( /ˌtɛrəˈdæktᵻlz/). It is currently thought to contain only a single species, Pterodactylus antiquus, the first pterosaur species to be named and identified as a flying reptile.

The fossil remains of this species have been found primarily in the Solnhofen limestone of Bavaria, Germany, dated to the late Jurassic Period (early Tithonian), about 150.8–148.5 million years ago, though more fragmentary remains have been tentatively identified from elsewhere in Europe and in Africa.

It was a carnivore and probably preyed upon fish and other small animals. Like all pterosaurs, Pterodactylus had wings formed by a skin and muscle membrane stretching from its elongated fourth finger to its hind limbs. It was supported internally by collagen fibres and externally by keratinous ridges.

Description

Pterodactyl (disambiguation)

Pterodactyl refers to:

Aircraft

Pterodactyl (film)

Pterodactyl is a 2005 horror film that premiered on the Sci Fi Channel. The film is directed by Mark L. Lester.

Plot

A trio of hunters, scouting the Turkish/Armenian border are suddenly attacked by a pterodactyl. While defending themselves, they become overpowered, and are killed off one by one.

Michael (Cameron Daddo), and Kate (Amy Sloan), are leading a group of teenagers for camping and through a science expedition. The students are Gwen, Jason, Willis (Steve Braun), and Angie (Mircea Monroe). They stop at a Turkish forest and begin exploring, eventually discovering a dead pterodactyl and mounds of pterodactyl feces. They move on, not aware that another pterodactyl fllew overhead. While the others examine the spore, Angie wanders off and decides to go for a swim. When she jumps into the water, the same pterodactyl appears and attacks her. She struggles to escape, and runs into Jason, who was searching for Angie. In the confusion, he moves to the lake to investigate. Upon reaching the lake, the pterodactyl drags him away, and flies off. Angie tells the others that she was attacked by something that looked like a bird, but Michael dismisses the idea. Michael and Willis desperately go searching for Jason, but is actually killed near the lake.