pterodactyl etymology

Etymology

  • Pterodactyl is a genus of prehistoric flying reptiles that lived during the late Jurassic period. The name is derived from the Greek words:
    • πτερόν (pteron): "wing"
    • δάκτυλος (dáktylos): "finger"

Meaning

  • "Winged finger"

Origin

  • The name "pterodactyl" was first coined by the German naturalist Johann Georg Wagler in 1830 to describe a fossil specimen he had identified as belonging to a flying reptile. Wagler believed that the fourth finger of the animal's wing was the longest and that it resembled a finger.

pterodactyl relate terms

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    Etymology Origin Greek aptero without wings Meaning Adjective Lacking or having

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  • archaeopteryx

    Etymology ἀρχαῖος archaīos Ancient old πτέρυξ pteryx Wing Mean

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  • Coleoptera

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    Etymology The word competent comes from the Latin word competens which means suitab

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    Etymology Greek εὐρύς eurys meaning broad Greek πτερόν pteron meani

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  • impetus

    Etymology Latin impetus attack onset assault Proto Indo European h₂ep to

  • iopterous

    Etymology and Meaning Origin Greek combining io violet and pteros winged Me

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  • ornithopter

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  • perpetuity

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  • petition

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    Etymology Latin proprius one s own favorable Sanskrit priya dear Meaning an

  • ptero

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    Etymology Pterodactyl is a genus of prehistoric flying reptiles that lived during the la

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    Etymology From Ancient Greek πτῶσις ptōsis a falling from πίπτω pip

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    Etymology Ancient Greek σύμπτωμα sýmptōma meaning incident concomitant

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