Editing Pterodactylus (section)

==Paleobiology==
===Life history===
[[File:Pterodactylus spectabilis 4.JPG|thumb|left|[[Holotype]] specimen of the species ''P. spectabilis'', now considered a juvenile specimen of ''P. antiquus'']]
Like other pterosaurs (most notably ''[[Rhamphorhynchus (pterosaur)|Rhamphorhynchus]]''), ''Pterodactylus'' specimens can vary considerably based on age or level of maturity. Both the proportions of the limb bones, size and shape of the skull, and size and number of teeth changed as the animals grew. Historically, this has led to various growth stages (including growth stages of related pterosaurs) being mistaken for new species of ''Pterodactylus''. Several detailed studies using various methods to measure growth curves among known specimens have suggested that there is actually only one valid species of ''Pterodactylus'', ''P. antiquus''.<ref name="jouve2004" />

The youngest immature specimens of ''Pterodactylus antiquus'' (alternately interpreted as young specimens of the distinct species ''P. kochi'') have a small number of teeth, as few as 15 in some, and the teeth have a relatively broad base.<ref name=bennett1996a /> The teeth of other ''P. antiquus'' specimens are both narrower and more numerous (up to 90 teeth are present in several specimens).<ref name="jouve2004" />

''Pterodactylus'' specimens can be divided into two distinct year classes. In the first year class, the skulls are only {{convert|15|to|45|mm|in|sp=us}} in length. The second year class is characterized by skulls of around {{convert|55|to|95|mm|in|sp=us}} long, but are still immature however. These first two size groups were once classified as juveniles and adults of the species ''P. kochi'', until further study showed that even the supposed "adults" were immature, and possibly belong to a distinct genus. A third year class is represented by specimens of the "traditional" ''P. antiquus'', as well as a few isolated, large specimens once assigned to ''P. kochi'' that overlap ''P. antiquus'' in size. However, all specimens in this third year class also show sign of immaturity. Fully mature ''Pterodactylus'' specimens remain unknown, or may have been mistakenly classified as a different genus.<ref name=bennett1996a />

===Growth and breeding seasons===
[[File:Pterodactylus grandipelvis Teylers 2.JPG|thumb|Fossil pelvis of a large specimen, now referred to the dubious species ''P. grandipelvis'']]
The distinct year classes of ''Pterodactylus antiquus'' specimens show that this species, like the contemporary ''Rhamphorhynchus muensteri'', likely bred seasonally and grew consistently during its lifetime. A new generation of 1st year class ''P. antiquus'' would have been produced seasonally, and reached 2nd-year size by the time the next generation hatched, creating distinct 'clumps' of similarly-sized and aged individuals in the fossil record. The smallest size class probably consisted of individuals that had just begun to fly and were less than one year old.<ref name=bennett1996a /><ref name="Wellnhofer1970">{{cite book |last=Wellnhofer |first=Peter |url=https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/Abhandlungen-Akademie-Bayern_NF_141_0001-0133.pdf |title=Die Pterodactyloidea (Pterosauria) der Oberjura-Plattenkalke Süddeutschlands |publisher=Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Wissenschaftlichen Klasse, Abhandlungen |year=1970 |volume=141 |page=133}}</ref> The second year class represents individuals one to two years old, and the rare third year class is composed of specimens over two years old. This growth pattern is similar to modern [[crocodilia]]ns, rather than the rapid growth of modern [[bird]]s.<ref name=bennett1996a />

===Daily activity patterns===
Comparisons between the [[sclerotic ring|scleral rings]] of ''Pterodactylus antiquus'' and modern birds and reptiles suggest that it may have been [[Diurnality|diurnal]]. This may also indicate [[niche partitioning]] with contemporary pterosaurs inferred to be [[nocturnal]], such as ''Ctenochasma'' and ''Rhamphorhynchus''.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Schmitz, L. |author2=Motani, R. |year=2011 |title=Nocturnality in Dinosaurs Inferred from Scleral Ring and Orbit Morphology |journal=Science |volume=332 |issue=6030 |pages=705–8 |doi=10.1126/science.1200043 |pmid=21493820 |bibcode=2011Sci...332..705S |s2cid=33253407 |url=http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8922/c462d9cd7f64033fe9989f5a1dc0e7e8aac9.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228084617/http://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8922/c462d9cd7f64033fe9989f5a1dc0e7e8aac9.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

===Diet===
Based on the shape, size, and arrangement of its teeth, ''Pterodactylus'' has long been recognized as a carnivore specializing in small animals. A 2020 study of pterosaur tooth wear supported the hypothesis that ''Pterodactylus'' preyed mainly on invertebrates and had a generalist feeding strategy, indicated by a relatively high bite force.<ref name=diet2020>Bestwick, J., Unwin, D.M., Butler, R.J. et al. Dietary diversity and evolution of the earliest flying vertebrates revealed by dental microwear texture analysis. Nat Commun 11, 5293 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-19022-2</ref>