Pterodactylus antiquus (juvinile)
"antique wing finger"

NOTE: The extent and attachment of the wing in this drawing is likely incorrect.

Originally published as Ptero-Dactyle, Pterodactylus (as the name was emended in 1815) was the first pterosaur ever discovered, found in Germany in 1809. However, this reconstruction bears little resemblance to the way the animal was first thought to look. Pterosaurs used to be thought of as leathery, demonic-looking black bat creatures hanging from branches in primordial jungles. Recent discoveries show something quite different. Most pterosaurs are from marine deposits, indicating a much different lifestyle and lighter coloration. New specimens of Pterodactylus, analyzed under a UV light, show details never seen before in the species. Long suspected, the studies confirmed a keratinous beak at the tip of the toothed jaws. Long, curved claw sheathes were found, as was a never before seen cartilaginous or skin crest/comb adorning the back of the head. The hind feet were also found to be webbed. Like other pterosaurs, Pterodactylus was also found to have a fur-like coat, with a distinctive "mane" on the neck. Many species of Pterodactylus have been named over the years, but most were miss assigned. Even the gigantic Pteranodon was initially identified as a species of pterodactyl, despite the fact that Pterodactylus antiquus (the type species) had a wingspan of only two feet! Even traditional Pterodactylus species don't actually belong to this genus - P.antiquus is actually a primitive azhdarch, unlike other assigned species which are closer to the ctenochasmatids.

Like my Sharovipteryx and Quetzelcoatlus drawings, I gave the pterodactyl a butterfly wing pattern - total artistic license, as nobody knows what color these animals were. The above drawing illustrates a juvenile Pterodactylus.