Editing Pterodactylus (section)

===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 />