pterosaur

pter·o·saur  (tr-sôr)

n.

Any of various extinct flying reptiles of the order Pterosauria, including the pterodactyls, of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, characterized by wings consisting of a flap of skin supported by the very long fourth digit on each forelimb.

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[From New Latin Pterosauria, order name : Greek pteron, feather, wing; see -pter + Greek sauros, lizard.]

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pterosaur [ˈtɛrəˌsɔː]

n

(Earth Sciences / Palaeontology) any extinct flying reptile of the order Pterosauria, of Jurassic and Cretaceous times: included the pterodactyls Compare dinosaur, plesiosaur

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pter•o•saur (ˈtɛr əˌsɔr)

n.

any extinct flying reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous order Pterosauria characterized by membranous wings supported by one elongated finger on each hand.

[1860–65; < New Latin Pterosauria]

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pterosaur  (tr-sôr)

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).

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

pterosaur - an extinct reptile of the Jurassic and Cretaceous having a bird-like beak and membranous wings supported by the very long fourth digit of each forelimb flying reptile archosaur, archosaurian, archosaurian reptile - extinct reptiles including: dinosaurs; plesiosaurs; pterosaurs; ichthyosaurs; thecodonts order Pterosauria, Pterosauria - extinct flying reptiles: pterosaurs pterodactyl - extinct flying reptile