[ter-uh-dak-til] 
| any of a number of genera of flying reptiles of the extinct order Pterosauria, from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, having a highly reduced tail and teeth and a birdlike beak. |
| pter·o·dac·tyl (těr'ə-dāk'təl) n. Any of various small, mostly tailless, extinct flying reptiles of the order Pterosauria that existed during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. [New Latin Pterodactylus, genus name : Greek pteron, feather, wing; see -pter + Greek daktulos, finger.] pter'o·dac'ty·loid' adj., pter'o·dac'ty·lous adj. |
pterodactyl (těr'ə-dāk'təl) Pronunciation Key
(click for larger image in new window) Any of various small, extinct flying reptiles (pterosaurs) of the genus Pterodactylus of the late Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods. Pterodactyls had long, narrow jaws with sharp teeth, and a wingspan of 1 m (3.3 ft) or less. |
əˈdæk