Questions and answers about pterosaurs

Q1: In what era did pterosaurs live?

A: Pterosaurs originated in the Late Triassic about 220 million years ago and became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous 65 million years ago. They successfully survived on Earth for 150 million years and flew into the sky about 70 million years earlier than birds.

Q2: How big is the largest and smallest pterosaur in the world?

A: Because pterosaurs are extinct and no longer live on this earth, we can only judge their size through fossil records. The individual size and morphology of pterosaurs vary greatly. The largest pterosaur to date is the feathered serpent pterosaur with a wingspan of about 15 meters; and the smallest pterosaur is the sparrow-shaped forest pterosaur found in western Liaoning.

Q3: How many species of pterosaurs have been discovered in the world?

A: So far, more than 120 species of pterosaurs have been discovered in the world, which can be roughly divided into two categories - rachisaurus and pterodactyls. Rachisaurus is relatively primitive, with sharp teeth in its mouth, short neck and forelimb metacarpals, and long fifth toe and tail. It originated in the Late Triassic and flourished in the Jurassic. Pterodactyls are more advanced pterosaurs, with long necks and forelimb metacarpals, but short fifth toes and tails. The skulls of pterodactyls often have a coronal ridge. This type of pterosaur has a strong ability to fly, but a weak ability to walk on the ground. It originated in the Late Jurassic and flourished most in the Cretaceous.

Q4: Are pterosaurs cold-blooded or warm-blooded animals?

A: This question has attracted the same attention of scientists as the question of whether dinosaurs were cold-blooded or warm-blooded animals. The latest research shows that although pterosaurs belong to reptiles, they are likely to be warm-blooded animals. In order to adapt to the needs of flight, pterosaurs have already possessed physiological mechanisms for internal heat and constant body temperature, a high level of metabolism, a developed nervous system, and a highly efficient circulatory and respiratory system, making them the least reptile-like reptiles.

Q5: What do pterosaurs eat?

A: The pterosaurs discovered so far are mainly distributed near water, including the seaside and lakeside. Most of these pterosaurs feed on aquatic organisms, such as fish. Some special pterosaurs also have teeth arranged like combs, which may be like whales, filtering aquatic invertebrates or plankton for food. Some pterosaurs living in the forest used their wide and large mouths to catch insects. The large number of insects in the Mesozoic era were their most nutritious meals. Jehol pterosaur is a typical representative.

animal tags：