Flying lizards are called pterosaurs. They lived at the same time as
the dinosaurs. This was millions of years ago. Did Pterosaurs have
backbones and wings? Did they fly? Were they warm blooded? Were they big or small?
Pterosaurs fossils (bones) have been found in many places. They came
in all sizes from big to small. One big one had wings as big as a DC-3
airplane! Some were as small as a sparrow. Usually they were about the
size of a chicken.
Could Pterosaurs fly? They had light bones. They had wings like birds
and bats. They had muscles and backbones. Pterosaurs probably had warm
blood like birds and bats.
The first Pterosaurs had long tails. Some had a part on their tail that
looked like a kite.
Some later Pterosaurs had short tails and bigger wings.
Birds and bats have many of the same things that have been found in
Pterosaur fossils. Pterosaurs had wings, beaks and legs to land on the
ground. Birds have feathers Pterosaurs had something like scales on
their bodies but their wings were covered with only skin, like bats.
Some birds fly (flap their wings) almost all the time. Other birds
spend most of their time gliding (holding their wings open) through the
air. Pterosaurs could fly and glide too.
Sea birds soar near cliffs and waves. They catch fish or gather food.
Pterosaurs had special beaks (mouths) for catching fish, too.
Pterosaur fossils (bones) have been found all over the world. They were
able to adjust to their environments. Flying helped them find food,
escape enemies and mate.
Most scientists believe that Pterosaurs looked like birds and bats and
could fly.
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