Editing Pterodactylus (section)

===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 />