Pterodactyloidea

Pterodactyloidea forms one of the two suborders of pterosaurs ("wing lizards"), and contains the most advanced members of this group of flying reptiles. They appeared during the middle Jurassic Period, and differ from the basal rhamphorhynchoidea by their short tails and long wing metacarpals (hand bones). The most advanced forms also lack teeth. Many species had well developed crests on the skull, a form of display taken to extremes in giant-crested forms like Nyctosaurus and Tupandactylus. Pterodactyloids (specifically the family Azhdarchidae) were the last surviving pterosaurs when the order became extinct at the end of the Cretaceous Period, together with the dinosaurs and most marine reptiles.

"Pterodactyl" is also a common term for pterodactyloid pterosaurs, though it can also be used to refer to pterosaurs in general or to Pterodactylus specifically. Well-known examples of pterodactyloids include Pterodactylus, Dsungaripterus, Pteranodon, and Quetzalcoatlus.

Classification

Taxonomy

Listing of families and superfamilies within the suborder Pterodactyloidea, after Unwin 2006.

• Order Pterosauria
  • Suborder Pterodactyloidea
    • Nemicolopterus
    • Superfamily Ornithocheiroidea
      • Family Istiodactylidae
      • Family Ornithocheiridae
      • Family Pteranodontidae
    • Superfamily Ctenochasmatoidea
      • Cycnorhamphus
      • Feilongus
      • Pterodactylus
      • Family Ctenochasmatidae
        • Elanodactylus
        • Gegepterus
        • Subfamily Ctenochasmatinae
          • Beipiaopterus
          • Ctenochasma
          • Eosipterus
          • Pterodaustro
        • Subfamily Gnathosaurinae
          • Cearadactylus
          • Gnathosaurus
          • Huanhepterus
          • Plataleorhynchus
    • Superfamily Dsungaripteroidea
      • Germanodactylus
      • Herbstosaurus
      • Kepodactylus
      • Normannognathus
      • Tendaguripterus
      • Family Dsungaripteridae
    • Superfamily Azhdarchoidea
      • Family Lonchodectidae
      • Family Tapejaridae
      • Thalassodromeus
      • Tupuxuara
      • Family Azhdarchidae

• Pterodactyloids of uncertain relationships (incertae sedis)
  • Araripesaurus
  • Mesadactylus
  • Mythunga
  • Puntanipterus
  • Santanadactylus

Uncertain placement (incertae sedis): Araripedactylus, Wyomingopteryx, Bennettazhia, Dermodactylus, Haopterus, Mesadactylus, Criorhynchus.