Preondactylus

Preondactylus was one of the first pterosaurs, from the Triassic Period. It was also one of the smallest; it would have been smaller than the modern pigeon. Preondactylus was closely related to other early pterosaurs like Rhamphorhynchus and Dorygnathus. The teeth of Preondactylus were small and pointy. This suggests that it probably fed on small fish out of the water and small insects.

The wings were very different from modern birds or bats. The extremely long bones of the fourth finger formed the front of the wing, or leading edge. The first three fingers were short with claws and were possibly used to clamber up tree trunks or cliff faces. The wings of Preondactylus were only 18 inches across. This “winged finger” formed more than three quarters of the span of the whole wing.

Like many other pterosaurs, Preondactylus’s skeletons were hollow, like tubes. They were filled with air spaces, making the skeleton very light, suitable for flying. Pterosaurs may have evolved from small, active reptiles named thecodonts, which sped about on their hind limbs and which may have also have given rise to the dinosaurs.