Editing Pterodactylus (section)

==Cultural significance==
[[File:Pteranodon longiceps mmartyniuk wiki.png|upright|thumb|Life reconstruction of a ''Pteranodon'', popularly called "pterodactyl"]]
''Pterodactylus'' is regarded as one of the most iconic prehistoric creatures, with multiple appearances in books, movies, as well as television series and several videogames. The informal name "'''pterodactyl'''" is sometimes used to refer to any kind of animal belonging to the order [[Pterosauria]], though most of the time to ''Pterodactylus'' itself and the distantly-related ''[[Pteranodon]]'', the most well-known members of the group.<ref name="myths">{{cite web |url=http://www.pterosaur.net/myths.php |title=Pterosaurs: Myths and Misconceptions |author=Naish, Darren |publisher=Pterosaur.net |access-date=June 18, 2011}}</ref> The popular aspect of ''Pterodactylus'' consists of an elongated head crest, and potentially large wings. Studies of ''Pterodactylus'', however, conclude that it may even lack a bony cranial crest, though several analysis have proven that ''Pterodactylus'' may in fact have a crest made up of soft tissue instead of bone.<ref name=BennettPZ />

Another appearance of ''Pterodactylus''-like creatures is in [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s [[Middle-earth]] [[Tolkien's legendarium|legendarium]]. In this novel, the [[Nazgûl]], introduced as the Black Riders, are nine characters who rode flying monsters that looked similarly built to ''Pterodactylus''. [[Christopher Tolkien]], the son of the author, described the flying monsters as "Nazgûl-birds"; his father described the appearance of the steeds as somewhat "pterodactylic", and acknowledged that these were obviously "new mythology".<ref name="Letter 211">''[[Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien]]'', #211 to Rhona Beare, October 14, 1958</ref><ref name=T>''[[Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien]]'', #100 to [[Christopher Tolkien]], May 29, 1945, expressing his "loathing" for the [[Royal Air Force]]: "My sentiments are more or less those that [[Frodo]] would have had if he discovered some [[Hobbit]]s learning to ride Nazgûl-birds, 'for the liberation of the Shire'."</ref>