Pterosaurs ruled the skies for over 160 million years, long before any bird took flight. These flying reptiles lived alongside dinosaurs from the Late Triassic to the end of the Cretaceous (roughly 228 to 66 million years ago), and their names are among the most recognizable in prehistory. Despite what movies and toys suggest, pterosaurs were not actually dinosaurs but a separate group of reptiles that evolved powered flight independently.
From a sparrow-sized insect hunter to a giant as tall as a giraffe, flying dinosaurs names span an extraordinary range of sizes, diets, and habitats. The entries below cover every major species with real wingspans, time periods, and the traits that set each one apart.
Flying Dinosaurs Names and Wingspans
Flying dinosaurs is the popular name for pterosaurs, a group of warm-blooded flying reptiles and the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. Scientists have identified over 150 pterosaur species so far, ranging from wingspans under 25 centimeters to well over 10 meters.
Each name below includes the species’ real wingspan, the geological period it lived in, its diet, and the trait that made it distinct.
What Were Flying Dinosaurs
Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs. Both groups belonged to a larger clade called Archosauria (which also includes crocodilians), but pterosaurs split off on their own evolutionary branch. Dinosaurs walked with their legs directly beneath their bodies. Pterosaurs had wings formed by a membrane of skin, muscle, and other tissue that stretched from an enormously elongated fourth finger all the way down to the ankle.
That wing structure is one of the main differences between pterosaurs and birds. Birds have feathered wings supported by the entire arm. Pterosaurs had leathery membrane wings anchored to a single finger. Their bones were hollow and filled with air, making even the largest species light enough to fly.
Pterosaurs were also warm-blooded. Their bodies were covered in hair-like filaments called pycnofibers, which provided insulation much like mammal fur. They had efficient respiratory systems with air sacs, similar to modern birds, giving them the oxygen supply needed for sustained flight. The combination of hollow bones, strong muscles, and warm-blooded metabolism made pterosaurs powerful and agile flyers, not clumsy gliders as older science once assumed.
The reason people still call them “flying dinosaurs” comes mostly from popular culture. The Jurassic Park films featured Pteranodon prominently, and toy sets have packaged pterosaurs alongside T. rex and Triceratops for decades. The name stuck, even though it isn’t scientifically accurate.
Small Flying Dinosaurs
Not every pterosaur had a massive wingspan. Many were closer to the size of modern birds, and a few were even smaller.
Pterodactylus
The first pterosaur ever discovered and named, back in 1784. Pterodactylus (pronounced TER-oh-DAK-til-us) lived during the Late Jurassic, around 150 million years ago, in what is now Germany. Its wingspan measured about 1 meter (3.3 feet). Unlike later pterosaurs, Pterodactylus had teeth and hunted small fish, insects, and invertebrates. The name means winged finger in Greek, a reference to the elongated fourth finger that supported its wing membrane.
Dimorphodon
A stocky, short-winged pterosaur from the Early Jurassic, roughly 195 million years ago. Its wingspan reached about 1.4 meters (4.6 feet). The name means two-form tooth because it had two distinct types of teeth in its jaws: large fangs at the front and smaller teeth behind them. Dimorphodon lived in coastal regions of what is now England and fed on insects and small fish. With strong claws and a low center of gravity, it was also a capable climber.
Rhamphorhynchus
One of the best-known early pterosaurs, from the Late Jurassic of Europe, around 150 million years ago. Its wingspan reached about 1.8 meters (5.9 feet). Rhamphorhynchus (pronounced RAM-foh-RINK-us) had a long tail tipped with a diamond-shaped vane, sharp forward-pointing teeth built for snagging fish, and a narrow beak. Fossils have been found across England, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and even Tanzania.
Sordes
A small pterosaur from the Late Jurassic of Kazakhstan. Its wingspan was about 0.6 meters (2 feet). Sordes is significant because its fossils preserved clear impressions of pycnofibers, the hair-like body covering that proved pterosaurs were warm-blooded. The name means filth in Latin, an odd choice by the scientists who named it.
Anurognathus
A tiny nocturnal insect hunter from the Late Jurassic, found in Germany. With a wingspan of only about 50 centimeters (20 inches), Anurognathus was roughly the size of a sparrow. It had unusually large eyes and a wide, short mouth adapted for catching insects in flight during twilight and darkness. Among pterosaurs, it occupied a niche similar to modern nightjars.
Nemicolopterus
The smallest pterosaur on record. Discovered in western China’s Liaoning Province, Nemicolopterus had a wingspan of just 25 centimeters (10 inches). It lived during the Early Cretaceous, about 120 million years ago. Because the only known specimen was a juvenile, some paleontologists debate whether adults would have been larger, but the fossil stands as the smallest pterosaur yet found.
Large Flying Dinosaurs
The largest pterosaurs were also the largest flying animals in Earth’s history, rivaling small aircraft in wingspan.
Quetzalcoatlus
The biggest flying animal ever known. Quetzalcoatlus (pronounced KET-zal-co-AHT-lus) lived during the Late Cretaceous, about 68 to 66 million years ago, in what is now Texas. Its wingspan reached 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet), and when standing on the ground it was as tall as a giraffe, roughly 5 meters (16 feet). Despite its enormous size, its hollow bones kept its weight to an estimated 200 to 250 kilograms. The name comes from Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec feathered serpent god.
Quetzalcoatlus belonged to the azhdarchid family and had a long, toothless beak suited for stalking small animals on land rather than fishing. Research published in PLOS ONE estimated that once airborne, it could reach speeds over 108 kph (67 mph) in short bursts and cruise at about 90 kph (56 mph), covering vast distances with minimal flapping.
Pteranodon
The most famous pterosaur, and the one most people picture when they hear “flying dinosaur.” Pteranodon (pronounced teh-RAN-oh-don) lived during the Late Cretaceous, roughly 86 to 84 million years ago, over what is now Kansas and the central United States, which was then covered by a shallow sea. Its wingspan measured 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet). The name means wing without tooth, and true to its name, Pteranodon had a long, toothless beak and a prominent backward-pointing crest on its skull.
Over 1,200 Pteranodon fossils have been recovered, more than any other pterosaur. It fed on fish, scooping them from the water’s surface during flight.
Hatzegopteryx
A massive azhdarchid from the Late Cretaceous of what is now Transylvania, Romania. Hatzegopteryx had an estimated wingspan of up to 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet), rivaling Quetzalcoatlus. What set it apart was its unusually short, stocky neck and robust skull, which suggest it was a more powerful predator capable of hunting larger prey on the ground. Its name comes from the Hațeg Basin where the fossils were found.
Ornithocheirus
A Cretaceous pterosaur with an estimated wingspan exceeding 6 meters (20 feet), though some fragmentary fossils suggest it could have been even larger. Known from fossils found in England and other parts of Europe, Ornithocheirus had a distinctive rounded crest at the tip of its upper jaw. The name means bird hand. Its exact anatomy remains debated because the fossil record for this genus is incomplete.
Thanatosdrakon
One of the most recently described giant pterosaurs. Discovered in Argentina and formally named in 2022, Thanatosdrakon lived during the Late Cretaceous, about 86 million years ago. Two specimens were found: a juvenile with a wingspan around 7 meters (23 feet) and an adult estimated at 9 meters (30 feet). The name means dragon of death in Greek. It is the largest pterosaur known from South America.
Cryodrakon
Described in 2019 from fossils found in Alberta, Canada. Cryodrakon (frozen dragon) was an azhdarchid from the Late Cretaceous with an estimated wingspan of about 10 meters (33 feet). Previously, the reference fossil was thought to belong to Quetzalcoatlus, but closer examination of the neck vertebrae revealed a distinct species. It is the largest flying reptile known from Canada.
Flying Dinosaurs with Head Crests
Many pterosaurs had elaborate crests on their skulls. Scientists now believe these were used for display and mate attraction, much like the plumage of modern peacocks, rather than for steering during flight.
Tapejara
A Cretaceous pterosaur from Brazil with one of the most visually striking crests in the pterosaur world. Its crest was a tall, sail-like structure on top of its head, possibly brightly colored in life. Tapejara had a wingspan of about 3.5 meters (11.5 feet) and was active for short periods during the day. The name comes from the Tupi language and roughly translates to the lord of the ways.
Nyctosaurus
A Late Cretaceous pterosaur from the Western Interior Seaway of North America. Nyctosaurus had a spectacular L-shaped or antler-like crest that extended well beyond the back of its skull. Its wingspan was about 2 meters (6.5 feet). The crest’s size relative to the body was extraordinary, and no other pterosaur had anything quite like it. Nyctosaurus appears to have been capable of long-distance flight over open water, much like a modern albatross.
Tupandactylus
Described from beautifully preserved fossils in northeastern Brazil, Tupandactylus had one of the largest head crests relative to body size of any pterosaur. The crest was a tall, rounded sail made of bone and soft tissue. It lived during the Early Cretaceous. The name honors Tupan, the thunder god of the Tupi people. Tupandactylus was primarily a ground-dwelling predator that used the claws on its wings to move about, flying only over short distances.
Germanodactylus
A Late Jurassic pterosaur from Germany with a bony crest along the top of its skull. The crest was covered in keratin (the same protein that makes up human fingernails), and it changed appearance during mating season. Germanodactylus had a wingspan of about 1 meter (3.5 feet), roughly raven-sized, and fed on small prey. The name means German finger.
Earliest Known Pterosaurs
The oldest pterosaurs appeared during the Late Triassic, about 228 million years ago. Even these earliest species were already fully adapted for flight, which makes tracing pterosaur origins difficult. No clear transitional fossils between ground-dwelling reptiles and flying pterosaurs have been found yet.
Eudimorphodon
One of the earliest pterosaurs on record, dating to the Late Triassic, around 210 million years ago. Found in the Alps of northern Italy, Eudimorphodon had a wingspan of about 1 meter (3.3 feet) and a mouth full of multi-cusped teeth, more than 100 in total. Those teeth were adapted for catching fish, and fossilized stomach contents confirm a fish-based diet. The name means true two-form tooth.
Preondactylus
Another Triassic pterosaur from Italy, and one of the most primitive known. Its wingspan was about 45 centimeters (18 inches). Preondactylus was small and lightly built, with a long tail typical of early pterosaurs. It is named after the Preone valley in northeastern Italy where the fossil was discovered.
Darwinopterus
A Middle Jurassic pterosaur from China, around 160 million years old. Darwinopterus is scientifically significant because it shows a mix of primitive and advanced features: the long tail and certain skull traits of early pterosaurs combined with the shorter fifth toe and wing proportions of later pterodactyloids. This blend supports the theory that pterosaurs evolved through a modular pattern, with the head and neck modernizing before the rest of the body. Its wingspan was about 0.8 meters (2.6 feet). The name honors Charles Darwin.
Recently Discovered Flying Dinosaurs
Paleontologists continue to find new pterosaur species. Several major discoveries from the past decade have reshaped what we know about these animals.
Thanatosdrakon (2022)
Formally described from Mendoza Province, Argentina. With an adult wingspan around 9 meters (30 feet), Thanatosdrakon amaru is the largest pterosaur yet found in South America. The two specimens (one juvenile, one adult) were found in rocks dating to the Late Cretaceous, about 86 million years ago. The discovery showed that giant azhdarchids were not limited to North America and Europe.
Cryodrakon (2019)
Named from fossils in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. Previously mistaken for Quetzalcoatlus, Cryodrakon boreas was recognized as a separate azhdarchid species after detailed examination of its neck vertebrae. Adult wingspan: approximately 10 meters (33 feet). The name means frozen dragon, a nod to Canada’s climate.
Dearc sgiathanach (2022)
Discovered on the Isle of Skye, Scotland, and described as the best-preserved pterosaur skeleton from the Jurassic period worldwide. Dearc (pronounced “jark”) lived about 170 million years ago and had an estimated wingspan of over 2.5 meters (8 feet), making it the largest Jurassic pterosaur known. The name is Scottish Gaelic for winged reptile.
Feathered Dinosaurs That Could Fly
Pterosaurs were not the only prehistoric creatures that took to the air. Several small, feathered dinosaurs from the theropod group developed the ability to fly or glide. These are the ancestors of modern birds, not the pterosaurs.
Archaeopteryx
Widely regarded as the oldest known bird, Archaeopteryx lived during the Late Jurassic, about 150 million years ago, in what is now southern Germany. It had feathered wings with a span of about 0.5 meters (1.6 feet), but it also had teeth, clawed fingers, and a bony tail, traits shared with small predatory dinosaurs. Weighing about one kilogram, roughly the size of a raven, Archaeopteryx provides the strongest evidence for the evolutionary link between theropod dinosaurs and birds. Its German name, Urvogel, means original bird.
Microraptor
A four-winged feathered dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous of China, about 125 million years ago. Microraptor had flight feathers on both its arms and its legs, giving it four lifting surfaces. It was small, only about 77 centimeters (2.5 feet) long, and likely glided between trees rather than flapping for sustained flight. Fossils show iridescent black feathers similar to those of a modern crow.
Anchiornis
A tiny feathered dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of China, roughly 160 million years ago. Anchiornis weighed about 110 grams and had feathered limbs. Detailed fossil analysis has revealed its exact color pattern: a gray body, black-and-white striped wings, and a reddish-brown crest. Anchiornis could glide but was not capable of powered flight. Its name means near bird.
How Did Pterosaurs Fly
Pterosaur flight worked differently from bird flight. Their wings were membranes of skin and muscle stretched from the tip of an extremely elongated fourth finger to the body and hind legs. This membrane was not a thin flap. It contained densely packed muscle fibers called actinofibrils that gave the wing structure and control, allowing pterosaurs to adjust wing shape during flight.
Their bones were hollow and pneumatized (filled with air extensions from the lungs), which reduced weight dramatically. A Quetzalcoatlus with a 10-meter wingspan weighed only about 200 to 250 kilograms, lighter than most adult male humans relative to wing area.
Pterosaurs launched from the ground using a quadrupedal vault. Instead of running on two legs like birds, they crouched on all fours and used the powerful muscles in their forelimbs to leap into the air. A single leap could get even the largest species airborne. Once in the air, they alternated between flapping and soaring, much like modern albatrosses.
Being warm-blooded gave pterosaurs the sustained energy output needed for powered flight. Their air-sac respiratory system provided a continuous flow of oxygen to the muscles, far more efficient than the lungs of a cold-blooded reptile. Pycnofibers covering the body trapped heat, maintaining the high body temperature that this active lifestyle demanded.
Flying Dinosaurs Names and Sizes at a Glance
| Name | Wingspan | Time Period | Diet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quetzalcoatlus | 10–11 m (33–36 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Small land animals |
| Hatzegopteryx | 10–11 m (33–36 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Large ground prey |
| Cryodrakon | ~10 m (33 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Uncertain (azhdarchid) |
| Thanatosdrakon | ~9 m (30 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Uncertain (azhdarchid) |
| Pteranodon | 6–7 m (20–23 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Fish |
| Ornithocheirus | 6+ m (20+ ft) | Cretaceous | Fish, marine animals |
| Tapejara | 3.5 m (11.5 ft) | Early Cretaceous | Small animals |
| Dearc sgiathanach | 2.5+ m (8+ ft) | Middle Jurassic | Likely fish |
| Nyctosaurus | 2 m (6.5 ft) | Late Cretaceous | Fish |
| Rhamphorhynchus | 1.8 m (5.9 ft) | Late Jurassic | Fish |
| Dimorphodon | 1.4 m (4.6 ft) | Early Jurassic | Insects, fish |
| Pterodactylus | 1 m (3.3 ft) | Late Jurassic | Fish, insects |
| Eudimorphodon | 1 m (3.3 ft) | Late Triassic | Fish |
| Germanodactylus | 1 m (3.5 ft) | Late Jurassic | Small prey |
| Darwinopterus | 0.8 m (2.6 ft) | Middle Jurassic | Insects, small animals |
| Tupandactylus | ~0.8 m (2.6 ft) | Early Cretaceous | Small animals |
| Sordes | 0.6 m (2 ft) | Late Jurassic | Insects |
| Archaeopteryx | 0.5 m (1.6 ft) | Late Jurassic | Insects, small animals |
| Anurognathus | 0.5 m (1.6 ft) | Late Jurassic | Insects (nocturnal) |
| Preondactylus | 0.45 m (1.5 ft) | Late Triassic | Small prey |
| Microraptor | ~0.4 m (est.) | Early Cretaceous | Small animals, insects |
| Anchiornis | ~0.3 m (est.) | Late Jurassic | Insects |
| Nemicolopterus | 0.25 m (10 in) | Early Cretaceous | Unknown (smallest pterosaur) |
FAQs
A flying dinosaur is called a pterosaur (pronounced TER-oh-soar), meaning “winged lizard” in Greek. Pterosaurs were not true dinosaurs but a related group of flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic Era, from about 228 to 66 million years ago. The word “pterodactyl” is an informal term that people use interchangeably, but it technically refers to one specific genus, Pterodactylus.
Quetzalcoatlus northropi holds the record as the largest known flying animal in history. Its wingspan stretched 10 to 11 meters (33 to 36 feet), comparable to a small airplane. Standing on the ground, it was about as tall as a giraffe, roughly 5 meters (16 feet). It lived in Late Cretaceous Texas, about 68 to 66 million years ago.
The flying creature in the Jurassic Park films is a Pteranodon. It appears most prominently in Jurassic Park III and Jurassic World, with its long toothless beak and distinctive backward-pointing head crest. Pteranodon was a real pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous, about 86 to 84 million years ago, with a wingspan of 6 to 7 meters (20 to 23 feet).
No. Pterosaurs and dinosaurs are related but belong to different groups. Both are archosaurs, a clade that also includes crocodilians and birds, but pterosaurs evolved on a separate branch. Dinosaurs are defined as the descendants of the last common ancestor of Saurischia and Ornithischia, and that definition does not include pterosaurs. The confusion comes from popular culture grouping them together.
Pterodactylus was a small, toothed pterosaur from the Late Jurassic with a wingspan of about 1 meter. Pteranodon was much larger (6 to 7 meters wingspan), toothless, and lived during the Late Cretaceous, about 86 to 84 million years ago. Pterodactylus had teeth and no prominent head crest. Pteranodon was toothless and had a long, backward-sweeping crest. The word “pterodactyl” is also used loosely to refer to all pterosaurs, which adds to the confusion.
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