Pterosaur

Pterosaur, member of a group of flying reptiles that lived 195–65 million years ago, during the Mesozoic era. The compact body had a pointed head with powerful, toothed jaws. Skin between the hindlimb and the forelimb's 4th finger served as a wing. The other 3 fingers were clawed and free for clutching. The slender hindlimbs seem to have been adapted for suspending the animal. Scientists believe that the pterosaur, besides gliding and soaring, flapped its wings. There are 2 known groups of pterosaurs: the earlier rhamphourhynchoids, the size of a sparrow; and the various sized pterodactyls. The Pteranodon, a pterodactyl descendant, had a wingspan estimated at up to 51 ft (15.5 m), making it the largest flying reptile.