Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Pterosauria

Pterosauria

9.9
Extinct flying reptiles that lived during the age of dinosaurs
  • noun
  • /ˌtɛrəˈsɔriə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Pterosauria
  • Scientists believe that Pterosauria were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight.

Examples

  • Fossils of Pterosauria have been found in many parts of the world.

  • The extinction of Pterosauria coincided with the end of the Cretaceous period.

  • The Pterosauria were remarkable creatures of the sky.

  • Did you know that Pterosauria existed millions of years ago?

  • Fossils of Pterosauria have been found in many parts of the world.

  • Scientists believe that Pterosauria were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight.

  • The extinction of Pterosauria coincided with the end of the Cretaceous period.

Synonyms

pterosaur
vsPterosauria
5 9.9

A flying reptile that lived in the time of the dinosaurs with thin skin wings like a bat

refers to the whole taxonomic order covering those reptiles rather than one animal
flying reptile
vsPterosauria
1 8.5

An extinct animal with wings like a bat made of skin and supported by one long finger

refers broadly to the order that lived across the whole Mesozoic Era

Surface Forms

Pterosauria singular
Pterosaurias plural

Morphology

Pterosauria = pterosaur (semi-transparent) = ptero + saur + ia

Formed by adding the taxonomic suffix '-ia' to 'pterosaur'; the relation to 'pterosaur' is clear, but the specific meaning 'a taxonomic group/order' is technical.

Etymology

Pterosauria comes from the Greek parts pteron 'wing' and sauros 'lizard', and the same -saur appears in dinosaur. So Pterosauria means 'winged lizards', which helps you remember they were the flying reptiles of the age of dinosaurs.