pterosaur

American  

[ter-uh-sawr] / ˈtɛr əˌsɔr /

noun

1. any flying reptile of the extinct order Pterosauria, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having the outside digit of the forelimb greatly elongated and supporting a wing membrane.

---

pterosaur British  

/ ˈtɛrəˌsɔː /

noun

1. any extinct flying reptile of the order Pterosauria, of Jurassic and Cretaceous times: included the pterodactyls Compare dinosaur plesiosaur

---

pterosaur Scientific  

/ tĕr′ə-sôr′ /

1. Any of various extinct flying reptiles of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods with wings consisting of a flap of skin supported by an elongated fourth digit on each forelimb (rather than an elongated second digit as in birds). Some pterosaurs were unique among reptiles in being covered with hair. Pterosaurs had wingspans ranging from less than 0.3 m (1 ft) to close to 15.2 m (50 ft).

---

Etymology

Origin of pterosaur

1860–65; < New Latin Pterosauria; see ptero-, -saur

Compare meaning

How does pterosaur compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• pterosaur vs. pterodactyl

Example Sentences

"Any information that can fill in the gaps of what we don't know about dinosaur and bird brains is important in understanding flight and neurosensory evolution within pterosaur and bird lineages," Balanoff says.

From Science Daily • Dec. 9, 2025

At about 209 million years old, this is now believed to be the earliest pterosaur to be found in North America.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

Scientists have discovered a new species of pterosaur – a flying reptile that soared above the dinosaurs more than 200 million years ago.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

A newly described pterosaur found in Germany has provided fresh insights into how these flying reptiles evolved from small, climbing animals to the large, flying ones that dominated prehistoric skies.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 27, 2024

The new pterosaur is part of the Darwinoptera clade of pterosaurs.

From Science Daily • Feb. 5, 2024