Petrodactyle
Petrodactyle was a flying reptile that lived in the Late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. It had a wingspan of about 2.1 metres (6.9 feet), making it one of the largest pterosaurs from the Solnhofen area of Germany. It also had one of the biggest bony crests on its head of any Jurassic pterosaur.1
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Fun facts
Petrodactyle is one of the largest pterosaurs known from the Jurassic period, with a wingspan of about 2.1 metres (6.9 feet).1
It had a large bony crest on the back of its skull, which helped give it a powerful bite.1
Its teeth were short and spike-like, and only found in the front half of its jaws. This suggests it grabbed prey with a strong grip.1
Petrodactyle had long legs and could probably wade in shallow water to hunt.1
The only known fossil was found in 2010 in a public quarry in Germany. It is a mostly complete skeleton of a subadult.1
The name Petrodactyle means 'stone finger', a nod to the first pterosaur ever named, Pterodactylus.1
Most asked questions about Petrodactyle
?What did Petrodactyle eat?
Petrodactyle was a carnivore, likely feeding on small fish, crustaceans, and other small prey. Its strong bite and spike-like teeth helped it grab slippery food.1
?How big was Petrodactyle?
Petrodactyle had a wingspan of about 2.1 metres (6.9 feet), making it one of the largest pterosaurs from the Solnhofen area and one of the largest Jurassic pterosaurs.21
?Where did Petrodactyle live?
Petrodactyle lived in what is now Germany about 150 million years ago, during the Late Jurassic. Its fossils were found in the Mörnsheim Formation in Bavaria.23
?Why did Petrodactyle have a crest?
The large bony crest on Petrodactyle's skull likely helped anchor jaw muscles, giving it a stronger bite. It may have also been used for display.1
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For dino experts
- Scientific name
- Petrodactyle
- Named by
- Hone et al. 20234
- Group
- Flying reptiles
- Family / clade
- Gallodactylidae4
- Classification
- Pterosauria > Pterodactyloidea4
- Age of the rocks
- 149 to 145 million years (Tithonian)4
- Rock formations
- Mörnsheim4
- Countries
- Germany4
- Fossil records
- 1 in the Paleobiology Database4
- Discovery
- Petrodactyle was named in 2023 by David Hone, René Lauer, and Frederik Spindler. The only known fossil was found in 2010 in a public quarry in Bavaria, Germany, by Günther Zehetner.1
- Still debated
- Scientists are not sure exactly what Petrodactyle ate. It may have been a fish-eater, but its strong bite and worn tooth tips suggest it also ate hard-shelled animals like crustaceans.1
Where the facts come from
- A new Solnhofen pterosaur (palaeo-electronica.org)
- Petrodactyle (en.wikipedia.org)
- Jurassic Pterosaur Had Giant Bony Crest on Its Head | Sci.News (sci.news)
- Petrodactyle in The Paleobiology Database (CC BY 4.0): age, places, rock formations, classification.
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