Pterosaurs - Flying Lizards

Flying lizards are called pterosaurs. They lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. This was millions of years ago. Did Pterosaurs have backbones and wings? Did they fly? Were they warm blooded? Were they big or small?

Pterosaurs fossils (bones) have been found in many places. They came in all sizes from big to small. One big one had wings as big as a DC-3 airplane! Some were as small as a sparrow. Usually they were about the size of a chicken.

Could Pterosaurs fly? They had light bones. They had wings like birds and bats. They had muscles and backbones. Pterosaurs probably had warm blood like birds and bats.

The first Pterosaurs had long tails. Some had a part on their tail that looked like a kite. Some later Pterosaurs had short tails and bigger wings.

Birds and bats have many of the same things that have been found in Pterosaur fossils. Pterosaurs had wings, beaks and legs to land on the ground. Birds have feathers Pterosaurs had something like scales on their bodies but their wings were covered with only skin, like bats.

Some birds fly (flap their wings) almost all the time. Other birds spend most of their time gliding (holding their wings open) through the air. Pterosaurs could fly and glide too.

Sea birds soar near cliffs and waves. They catch fish or gather food. Pterosaurs had special beaks (mouths) for catching fish, too.

Pterosaur fossils (bones) have been found all over the world. They were able to adjust to their environments. Flying helped them find food, escape enemies and mate.

Most scientists believe that Pterosaurs looked like birds and bats and could fly.

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Last modified: Sat May 2 12:57:22 PDT 1998