Names of Dinosaurs That Fly: Exploring the Myth of “Flying Dinosaurs”

Henry Fairfield Osborn, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Did dinosaurs ever fly? What about those giant “pterodactyls” we see in movies? In this article, we’ll dive into the names of prehistoric creatures often called “flying dinosaurs” and discover the truth behind them. You’ll learn about the amazing pterosaurs (the winged reptiles that ruled the skies), why they’re not actually dinosaurs, and meet some real flying dinosaurs (birds and gliders) from the age of dinosaurs. We’ll also share key facts, fun trivia, and the latest discoveries about these prehistoric fliers. Let’s take off into the Mesozoic skies!

Flying Dinosaurs vs Flying Reptiles: Clearing Up the Confusion

Were there any flying dinosaurs? Technically, no – at least not the kind of dinosaurs you might be imagining. The term “flying dinosaur” is a bit misleading. The creatures often labeled as flying dinosaurs were actually pterosaurs, a group of prehistoric reptiles that lived alongside dinosaurs. Pterosaurs are close cousins of dinosaurs, but not dinosaurs themselves. They belong to a separate branch of the reptile family tree.

Scientists define “dinosaur” in a specific way – it refers only to land-dwelling reptiles with certain hip and limb structures. Dinosaurs had their legs straight under their bodies, whereas pterosaurs (like modern lizards or crocodiles) had limbs that extended outward from the sides. Because of these differences, pterosaurs are excluded from the dinosaur club, despite living in the same eras.

So what were pterosaurs? Pterosaurs (meaning “winged lizards”) were the first vertebrates to achieve powered flight, long before birds or bats. They first appeared in the Late Triassic period and thrived until the end of the Cretaceous (about 228 to 66 million years ago). Over 130 species (genera) of pterosaurs have been identified, ranging from the size of a sparrow to bigger than a fighter jet!

It’s important to note that birds are technically flying dinosaurs – they evolved from small feathered theropod dinosaurs. However, when people say “flying dinosaur,” they usually mean the giant reptilian creatures like pterodactyls. In this article, “flying dinosaurs” refers to those misidentified pterosaurs and we’ll clarify the difference as we go.

Why People Mistake Pterosaurs for Dinosaurs

The misconception likely comes from popular media and the awe these reptiles inspire. Pterosaurs lived in the “Age of Dinosaurs,” so it’s easy to assume they were dinosaurs. Classic movies and even old textbooks often call them “pterodactyls,” lumping them in with dinosaurs. In reality, calling a pterosaur a dinosaur is like calling a bat a type of bird – they are different even if they share the sky.

Another fun fact: the word “pterodactyl” isn’t a scientific name for a specific animal, but a common term people use for pterosaurs. It originates from Pterodactylus, the first pterosaur species ever discovered and named in the 18th century. Over time, people started using “pterodactyl” to refer to any of these flying reptiles, though scientists typically stick to “pterosaur” or specific genus names.

Bottom line: If you’re talking about reptiles with wings from the Mesozoic era, you’re talking about pterosaurs, not true dinosaurs. Now, let’s meet some of these fascinating flyers by name.

List of Prehistoric Flying Reptiles (Often Mistaken as “Flying Dinosaurs”)

Below are some scientifically accurate flying reptiles from the age of dinosaurs. We’ll introduce each one, explain what made them special, and clear up any dino mix-ups. These pterosaurs varied widely in size, shape, and lifestyle, but they all shared one thing: they could soar through prehistoric skies.

Pterodactylus – The First Flying Reptile Discovered

Pterodactylus (meaning “winged finger”) holds a special place in history as the first pterosaur ever identified. Its fossils were discovered in 1784 in Bavaria, Germany, shocking scientists who at first didn’t know what to make of a reptile with wings. Pterodactylus was a relatively small pterosaur – about the size of a crow, with a wingspan around 3 to 4 feet (~1 meter). It had a long beak filled with teeth and a short tail. Being an early pterosaur, it likely ate insects or small fish along the shores of ancient seas.

Fun fact: Because it was the first of its kind known to science, people in the 1800s used the name “pterodactyl” for this and similar creatures. That’s why even today many folks refer to all flying reptiles as pterodactyls, even though Pterodactylus is just one genus among many.

Jonathan Chen, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Pteranodon – The Toothless “Wing” with a Crest

Pteranodon is one of the most famous pterosaurs and often what people imagine when they hear “flying dinosaur.” It lived in the Late Cretaceous period (about 86–84 million years ago) in what is now North America. Pteranodon had an impressive wingspan—ranging from 18 to 20 feet (5.5–6 m) for large males—and is known for the long bony crest at the back of its head. Unlike Pterodactylus, Pteranodon had no teeth (its name means “toothless wing”), and it likely fed on fish, scooping them from the water as it glided over the ocean.

Over 1,000 Pteranodon fossils have been found, making it one of the best-known pterosaurs. It probably spent much of its time soaring on air currents above inland seas. Its hollow bones and enormous wings allowed it to stay aloft with minimal effort, similar to how an albatross flies today. However, launching into flight was tricky for such a big animal – scientists believe Pteranodon may have needed to take off from water or high cliffs, using strong limbs and powerful wing strokes to get airborne.

Fun fact: Pteranodon was discovered in 1876 by famous Yale paleontologist O.C. Marsh. At first, some specimens were mistaken for species of Pterodactylus, until its distinct crest and lack of teeth proved it was a different genus altogether. Today, Pteranodon often stars in museum displays and movies – if you’ve seen a “pterodactyl” in a film, chances are it was modeled after Pteranodon.

An illustration or model of Pteranodon with its wings spread and crest visible (e.g., the classic brown pterosaur with a backward-pointing head crest). Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0, artist's restoration).

Quetzalcoatlus – The Giant That Ruled the Skies

Quetzalcoatlus is often cited as the largest flying creature of all time. This late Cretaceous pterosaur (around 70 million years ago) was truly gigantic – its wingspan is estimated at 33–36 feet (10–11 meters), about the size of a small plane! When it stood on the ground, Quetzalcoatlus might have been as tall as a giraffe. It belonged to a family of pterosaurs (azhdarchids) that had long, stiff necks and no teeth. Quetzalcoatlus’s beak was long and pointed, perfect for possibly plucking small animals from the ground or skimming water for fish.

Despite its size, Quetzalcoatlus could fly. Its hollow bones were incredibly lightweight (a common trait in pterosaurs) – the walls of the bones were as thin as a playing card, reinforced internally like an airplane wing. To take off, Quetzalcoatlus likely used a powerful leap and flapping, possibly using all four limbs in a “quad launch” to vault into the air. Once airborne, it could cruise on thermals. Some studies suggest it could travel long distances, even crossing ancient oceans or continents.

The name Quetzalcoatlus comes from the Aztec feathered serpent god “Quetzalcoatl,” reflecting its enormous, almost mythical presence. Its fossils were first discovered in Texas in the 1970s, and paleontologists were stunned by the size. Even today, new research is refining how such a creature lived and flew. Was it a predator stalking prey on land and then taking off, or more of a stork-like fish eater? The debate continues, making Quetzalcoatlus one of the most fascinating pterosaurs.

Fun fact: To visualize Quetzalcoatlus’s size: if one stood in the middle of a basketball court with wings outstretched, its wing tips would nearly touch the hoops on both ends! It’s wingspan was about 3 times that of the largest flying bird alive today (the wandering albatross).

Dimorphodon – Two-Teeth and a Puffin-Like Face

Dimorphodon was an early Jurassic pterosaur (around 195 million years ago) with some unique features. Its name means “two-form tooth,” because it had two distinct types of teeth in its jaws – something unusual for reptiles. Dimorphodon wasn’t particularly large (wingspan about 4 feet or 1.2 m), but it had a sturdy, short skull with a blunt, puffin-like snout. This odd-looking pterosaur likely lived near coastlines. It may have eaten insects or small vertebrates, and some scientists think its build wasn’t optimized for long flight – perhaps it glided between trees or cliffs and spent a lot of time on the ground or in low vegetation.

Fossils of Dimorphodon were first found in England by the famed fossil hunter Mary Anning in the 1820s. It had a relatively short wingspan for its body and a long tail with a diamond-shaped vane at the end (a tail rudder of sorts). These traits suggest it was from the early lineage of pterosaurs which generally had longer tails and were not as specialized for soaring as later forms.

Fun fact: The two kinds of teeth in Dimorphodon’s mouth (pointy front teeth and flatter back teeth) indicate it could tackle different kinds of prey – grab with the fangs up front, and crush or chew with the back teeth. This dental versatility is rare among pterosaurs.

MCDinosaurhunter, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Rhamphorhynchus – Long-Tailed “Snout Beak”

Rhamphorhynchus is another Jurassic pterosaur, notable for the long tail that ended in a diamond-shaped flap of skin. In fact, its name means “beak snout” and it had a long, narrow snout filled with needle-like teeth – great for snatching fish. Rhamphorhynchus was about the size of a seagull; its wingspan ranged roughly 3 to 6 feet (1–2 m) depending on the species. Fossils of Rhamphorhynchus have been found in what was once a tropical lagoon in Germany, indicating it led a coastal lifestyle. It probably fed by flying low over water and grabbing fish near the surface, much like modern seabirds do.

This pterosaur had relatively short legs and likely had to launch from water or take running leaps to get airborne. The tail vane might have helped stabilize it in flight, acting as an aerial rudder. Rhamphorhynchus is often depicted skimming over waves at dusk, hunting for its dinner with swift dives.

Fun fact: Some specimens of Rhamphorhynchus are so well-preserved that they include impressions of the wing membrane and even the stomach contents of the animal (in one case, fish scales were found in the belly of a Rhamphorhynchus fossil, indicating its last meal!).

Oleg Kuznetsov - 3depix -  http://3depix.com/ 3D Epix Inc., CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Ornithocheirus – The Mysterious “Bird Hand”

Ornithocheirus (“bird hand”) was a pterosaur from the mid-Cretaceous period, known from fragmentary remains found in England and Brazil. It’s a bit of a mystery because we have only partial fossils, but it was a fairly large pterosaur with an estimated wingspan of 15–20 feet (4.5–6 m). Ornithocheirus likely had a long jaw with teeth and possibly a crest on its snout. Paleontologists think it was related to other large soaring pterosaurs that fed on fish.

This pterosaur gained fame in popular culture through BBC’s Walking with Dinosaurs series, which portrayed an Ornithocheirus on a dramatic migration. While that was partly speculative, it is true that pterosaurs like Ornithocheirus could probably fly long distances. If you imagine a big, prehistoric pelican or albatross cruising above Cretaceous seas, you wouldn’t be far off.

Fun fact: The name “bird hand” comes from the structure of its wings – pterosaur wings are supported by an extremely elongated fourth finger, while the other fingers form a clawed “hand.” In Ornithocheirus and kin, the wing finger was so long that its proportions reminded some scientists of a bird’s wing (even though birds actually use the whole arm as wing support, not one finger).

Tapajara and Tupandactylus – Crested “Headgear” Champions

Tapejara and its relative Tupandactylus were moderate-sized pterosaurs (wingspans around 10–13 feet, or 3–4 m) from early Cretaceous Brazil, famous for their spectacular head crests. Imagine a pterosaur with a sail-like crest on its head, often larger than its skull – that’s Tapejara. These crests may have been brightly colored in life and used for display to attract mates or intimidate rivals.

Tapejara had a short, toothless beak and might have eaten fruit or small animals. Tupandactylus (named after a Tupi thunder god) had an even larger crest that was supported by bone and probably extended with skin or keratin, forming a huge fan-shape. Despite their wild appearance, these pterosaurs were adept fliers. They likely dwelled in coastal or lake regions, where they could launch into the air easily and find plenty of food.

Fun fact: The soft tissue of a Tupandactylus crest was actually discovered in a fossil – a rare case where the impression of the skin was preserved. It showed that the crest was even bigger than the bony part, confirming these pterosaurs had some of the most extreme head ornaments in the animal kingdom.

*(The list above is just a sample of famous pterosaurs. Many more existed, over 150 known species in total. Now that we’ve met the “usual suspects” of flying reptiles, let’s address the actual dinosaurs that flew or glided during prehistoric times.)*

True Flying Dinosaurs: Early Birds and Gliding Dinosaurs

While pterosaurs dominated the skies, some true dinosaurs were experimenting with air travel in their own way. These weren’t dinosaurs with skin wings, but rather feathered dinosaurs that either glided or gave rise to birds. Here are a couple of notable examples:

Archaeopteryx – The First Bird (A Flying Dinosaur)

Archaeopteryx is often called the “first bird.” Living about 150 million years ago in the Late Jurassic, Archaeopteryx was a small dinosaur about the size of a raven, with broad feathered wings. It had features of both dinosaurs and birds – teeth and a long bony tail like a dinosaur, but feathers and a wishbone like a bird. Archaeopteryx could likely achieve powered flight or at least extended gliding, making it a true flying dinosaur (since birds are a branch of the dinosaur family tree).

Its fossils, discovered in Germany, showed impressions of flight feathers. Archaeopteryx probably wasn’t as strong a flier as modern birds; think of it as something between a flying bird and a gliding flying squirrel in ability. But it marks the dawn of avian dinosaurs taking to the air.

Fun fact: Archaeopteryx was discovered just two years after Darwin published On the Origin of Species, and it was seen as a beautiful transitional form between reptiles and birds, supporting the theory of evolution. It’s sometimes called “Urvogel,” German for “original bird.”

Microraptor – Four-Winged Glider

Microraptor was a small feathered dinosaur from the Early Cretaceous (about 120 million years ago) in China. It’s unique because it had feathers not only on its arms (forming wings) but also on its legs, essentially giving it “four wings.” Microraptor was about the size of a crow and likely lived in trees. It didn’t fly like a bird, but it could glide from branch to branch – a parachuting predator that may have fluttered down onto prey or away from larger predators.

Microraptor’s feathers were very bird-like, and in fact, scientists have even discovered pigment cells in its fossilized feathers, indicating it might have had an iridescent black color (like a crow or grackle). This little dinosaur shows how diverse the experiments in flight were during dinosaur times – not all flyers had to be large or have skin wings.

Fun fact: Fossil evidence suggests Microraptor ate a varied diet – one fossil had fish bones in its stomach, another had bird bones. It seems Microraptor wasn’t picky and could hunt in trees or dip into water for a snack.

Matt Martyniuk, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Yi Qi – The “Bat-Winged” Dinosaur

Yi qi (pronounced “ee chee”) is a recently discovered small dinosaur from China (Late Jurassic, ~160 million years ago) that had a very peculiar wing. Instead of large feathers, Yi qi had a skin membrane wing supported by a long rod-like bone extending from its wrist – somewhat similar to a bat’s wing! This is unlike any other dinosaur found. Yi qi likely could only glide short distances from tree to tree. Its discovery in 2015 showed that dinosaurs were trying all sorts of crazy ideas to conquer the air, though the only lineage that truly succeeded long-term were the feathered birds.

The name Yi qi means “strange wing” in Chinese, and it certainly lived up to that name. With a combination of bat-like wings and a body covered in fuzz and primitive feathers, Yi qi illustrates an evolutionary experiment. It had a small body, likely insectivorous or omnivorous diet, and climbed in trees. When leaping, its membranous wings could carry it in a glide. It’s a reminder that the line between dinosaur and pterosaur innovations was sometimes blurry – but Yi qi was definitely a dinosaur (a type of small theropod), not a pterosaur.

Fun fact: Yi qi’s fossil was so unexpected that at first scientists were baffled by the strange rod in its wrist. Only after careful study did they realize it supported a wing membrane. This fossil also has preserved patches of skin, showing the wing structure in detail – a rare and lucky find.

How Pterosaurs Flew: Key Characteristics and Lifestyle

Now that we know who the main “flying reptiles” were, let’s look at how they flew and lived. Pterosaurs had a different flight mechanism and lifestyle than today’s birds:

• Wing Structure: A pterosaur’s wing was a skin and muscle membrane stretching from an extremely long fourth finger down to its side or hind limbs. Imagine having a single finger as long as your body – that was the wing spar! The other fingers were short and clawed, used for climbing or walking when on the ground.
• Lightweight Build: Pterosaurs had hollow bones filled with air, much like modern birds, which made them very light for their size. Some large pterosaur wing bones were so thin-walled that they could be crushed between your fingers (if they weren’t fossilized rock now, of course). This lightweight skeleton was crucial for flight.
• Muscles and Flight: They likely had powerful flight muscles anchored to a keeled breastbone (again similar to birds) and a robust shoulder girdle. This anatomy, plus fossil trackways, suggests many pterosaurs walked on all fours when on land, using their wing joints as front “feet.” When it was time to fly, they vaulted into the air using a leap-frog motion: pushing off with hind legs and wings together.
• Diet and Feeding: Many pterosaurs were fish-eaters. They had long snouts with sharp teeth to grab slippery prey and some may have skimmed water surfaces to snap up fish. For example, species like Pteranodon and Ornithocheirus likely rarely landed on the ground, instead feeding at sea. Others like Pterodaustro had fine comb-like teeth to filter tiny shrimp from water (much like flamingos do). Smaller pterosaurs might have eaten insects. The variety was huge.
• Predators and Prey: Being able to fly was a great defense, but pterosaurs weren’t immune to danger. Big predatory dinosaurs could probably snatch them if they were caught on land or in water. In fact, one pterosaur fossil was found with a broken tooth of a Spinosaurus embedded in it – evidence that sometimes, pterosaurs became lunch for dinosaurs! Additionally, fossilized footprints show pterosaurs on beaches, which might have been ambush spots for carnivores. On the flip side, some larger pterosaurs might have been apex predators in isolated island environments (e.g., Hatzegopteryx in Cretaceous Europe could possibly prey on baby dinosaurs).
• Fur and Feathers: Surprising as it may sound, pterosaurs weren’t naked leathery reptiles. Impressions of hair-like filaments called pycnofibers have been found on some pterosaur fossils, suggesting they had a fuzzy coat. This could have helped regulate body temperature and perhaps indicates they were warm-blooded and active.
• Lifespan and Growth: Pterosaurs hatched from eggs (soft-shelled ones discovered fossilized in China and Argentina). The babies, sometimes called flaplings, might have been able to fly soon after birth. They grew fast. The largest species likely took many years to reach full size, and we know from bone growth rings that some lived for decades if they survived predators and accidents.

Modern Discoveries and Ongoing Research

Our understanding of these “flying dinosaurs” (pterosaurs) is improving all the time. Paleontologists are actively unearthing new fossils and using new technology to learn about how these creatures lived.

In recent years, new species have been discovered that fill gaps in the pterosaur family tree. For example, in 2022, scientists announced Dearc sgiathanach, a Jurassic pterosaur from Scotland that is the largest ever found from that period (wingspan over 8 feet). This shows that even in the earlier stages of pterosaur evolution, some got big. And in 2017, fossils from Mongolia revealed a new giant azhdarchid (close relative of Quetzalcoatlus), indicating multiple giant flyers at the end of the Cretaceous.

Cutting-edge research using CT scans has allowed scientists to peer inside pterosaur skulls to study brain size and inner ear structure. It turns out pterosaurs had very large flocculi (a part of the brain that helps coordinate movement and balance), likely an adaptation for flight. Their inner ears also suggest they were adept at orienting themselves in 3D space – crucial for an animal that dives and swoops.

There’s also ongoing debate about how pterosaurs launched into flight. One theory (now widely accepted) is the forelimb launch – basically, a pterosaur did a “jumping push-up,” vaulting into the air using its arms. This is supported by anatomical studies and some biomechanics models. It explains how even the giants like Quetzalcoatlus could take off from flat ground without needing a running start like an albatross.

Paleontologists are discovering pterosaur eggs and babies, giving insight into their reproductive behavior. At least one site in China preserved dozens of eggs of a genus Hamipterus, suggesting that pterosaurs may have nested in colonies like seabirds. The embryos in those eggs already had well-developed wing bones, hinting that hatchlings might have been ready to fly shortly after birth (precocial young).

Another fascinating area is pterosaur ecology – how they fit into their environment. Research suggests some pterosaurs might have filled roles similar to storks, others like pelicans, some like condors. By studying wear patterns on teeth, bone isotopes, and even coprolites (fossil poop), scientists piece together diets and habits. As we find more fossils, especially from less-explored places, we’ll surely uncover species we never imagined.

Conclusion: Unraveling the Mystery of Flying “Dinosaurs”

In summary, when someone asks for the names of dinosaurs that fly, we now know the answer isn’t a list of T. rex with wings, but rather a correction: “Do you mean pterosaurs?” These incredible flying reptiles – from Pterodactylus and Pteranodon to giants like Quetzalcoatlus – ruled the skies above the dinosaurs but were a distinct group with their own amazing story. They evolved unique adaptations like skin wings supported by a single finger, lightweight hollow bones, and often enormous head crests, allowing them to master flight for over 150 million years.

The true flying dinosaurs were the early birds and their kin, like Archaeopteryx, which were relatively small and feathered. They were the only dinosaurs to survive the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, going on to flourish as modern birds. Meanwhile, the pterosaurs, along with their dinosaur cousins, perished in that extinction – ending the reign of the great flying reptiles.

As we’ve seen, misconceptions about “flying dinosaurs” can actually open the door to a deeper interest in paleontology. The next time you hear someone marvel at a “pterodactyl,” you can share how these creatures weren’t dinosaurs at all, but something just as enthralling. With new discoveries still happening (who knows what fossil might be unearthed next – perhaps an even larger flyer or a completely new type of winged reptile), the story of pterosaurs is far from fully told.

Explore Further: If this topic caught your imagination, consider looking up museum exhibits or documentaries on pterosaurs. The American Museum of Natural History’s “Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs” is a great resource, and there are now 3D animations online showing how pterosaurs flew. By learning more, we pay tribute to these marvelous creatures that once winged their way through primordial skies.