ScienceAugust 16, 2026

pterosaurs

TEHR-uh-sorz

Definition

Extinct flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, distinct from dinosaurs but related to them within the archosauromorph group.

Etymology

The word is derived from the Greek words 'pteron' (wing) and 'sauros' (lizard). It was coined by paleontologists to describe the unique winged anatomy of these prehistoric creatures.

In the news

The article mentions pterosaurs as one of the major groups that descended from the ancestral archosauromorphs, highlighting the evolutionary significance of the newly discovered Austronaga fossil.

Chinese scientists uncover ancient reptile built for life in water

Read the full article ↗

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