Preondactylus
Art: Chris Masnaghetti
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Preondactylus
/pree-on-DAK-til-us/
Small and early, Preondactylus set the standard for almost all pterosaurs to come.
Pterosaur data
Mesozoic era · 252–66 Ma
Wingspan
About this pterosaur
Pterosaurs appeared during the Triassic Period, evolving from as-yet unknown warm-blooded relatives of the contemporary dinosaurs.
Preondactylus hails from the Italian Alps, in the Preone Valley, specifically Udine. There is only one species, P. buffarinii and it was named by Rupert Wild in 1983. The rocks of the Preone date back to over 228 million years ago, during the Late Carnian to Early Norian Stages of the Late Triassic.
The rocks here are bituminous dolomitic limestone, and this was certainly an ecosystem close to the sea and a number of fish have been found here. Currently it is just classified as a very basal non-pterodactyloid pterosaur and nothing else.
In terms of size, it had very short wings in comparison to its body. Preondactylus was also incredibly small with a wingspan of merely 45 centimeters, hardly impressive and putting it among the very smallest pterosaurs. It had the typical non-pterodactyloid body with its long tail and long-jawed head.
The teeth of Preondactylus were simple and had a single cusp, certainly not designed for a complex or varied diet. This animal was probably a insect-eater. However it was also prey.
Across the network
Credits
