Pterosaursandtapemeasures

Pterosaurs and Tape Measures
How big were these ancient flying reptiles, really?
Summary:
Discover the actual sizes of several famous pterosaurs by measuring
to get a real-life comparison of how big they truly were!
Guiding Questions:
What do you notice about this creature?
What can you find that is as long as each pterosaur’s wingspan?
How do you think being the size it was helped each pterosaur?
Experience Goals:
• Investigate what pterosaurs were, and when they lived
• Discover the sizes of 5 different pterosaurs
• Use a measuring tool to compare pterosaur wingspans to
modern day objects
Supplies:
• Pterosaur Files (pages 3-8)
• Measuring Device (a tape measure works best)
• Chalk or Tape to mark distances (optional)
• A place to do measurements over 35 feet
1
Steps:
1. Explore Pterosaurs
a. Learn about the sizes and features of 5 different pterosaurs
in the Pterosaur Files (pages 3-8)
b. Discuss the fact that pterosaurs are not dinosaurs, even
though they lived together. Does that surprise you? Why or
why not?
c. Imagine that you could see a pterosaur right in front of
you, with its wings fully stretched out. This length is called
a wingspan. Can you think of anything as long as each
pterosaur wingspan? Something in the house? Something
outside? A room?
2. Do Some Measuring!
a. Investigate each pterosaur, one at a time.
b. Find the length of the pterosaur’s wingspan in the
Pterosaur Files. Measure that distance with your measuring
device. Mark the distance with chalk or tape.
c. Stand near the middle of your measurement and spread
your arms as far as you can. Is your wingspan bigger than
the pterosaur’s?
d. Find an object or room you think is close to the length of
what you measured for the pterosaur (just take a look and
make a good guess–it’s okay if it’s not exact). Measure the
object or room. Was it close to the pterosaur’s wingspan?
e. Try measuring the other pterosaurs on the fact sheet.
Extensions:
• Measure a pterosaur’s wingspan and mark it off with chalk or tape
on your sidewalk. Then use chalk to draw the pterosaur on the
sidewalk for others to enjoy! Be sure to make its wings as wide
as your measured marks, and don’t forget to label your drawing.
Then your neighbors can learn about pterosaurs too!
2
• Look up the lengths of other extinct creatures, like dinosaurs!
Then measure to see how long they were- you might need to use
the measuring tool more than once! Are any as long as your whole
house? Longer? Here are two creature lengths to get
you started:
◦◦ Patagotitan (Maximo at the Field Museum): 122 feet long
◦◦ T. Rex (SUE at the Field Museum): 40 feet long
• Check out pterosaur models at the Field Museum to really
understand their size!!
• Adrienne Stroup, who created the wonderful pterosaur art you will
see below, hosted an Instagram Live drawing tutorial on how to
draw a Tully monster. It is available on the Field’s Instagram page.
Check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CAvfyPwFXQ2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Pterosaur Files
General Information for Pterosaur Investigators:
• Pterosaurs are not dinosaurs, nor are they birds! They belong
to a different family in the tree of life. They are closely related to
dinosaurs, so one way to think of them is “dinosaur cousins”.
They did live alongside dinosaurs.
• The name pterosaur means “Winged Lizard”.
• There are around 150 species of pterosaurs found in the fossil
record (so far!).
• “Pterodactyl” is not another word for pterosaur. Pterodactylus,
or a “pterodactyl”, is just one (or possibly two) of the 150 or
so species of pterosaur. Calling all flying reptiles pterodactyls
is like calling all cats “cheetahs”.
• Based on the fossil record, pterosaurs lived from 228 million
years ago to 66 million years ago. They died out along with
the dinosaurs when an asteroid struck the Earth. Some
scientists think the asteroid impact made the Earth too hot
for pterosaurs to fly.
• Different types of pterosaurs likely had varied diets, including
fish, insects, carrion, other pterosaurs, and even dinosaurs!
• Pterosaurs were widespread, with their fossils discovered on
every continent.
3
Pterosaur Name: Pterodactylus (Pterodactyl) “tare-o-DAK-til-us”
Name Meaning: Winged Finger
Wingspan: 5 feet (1.5 meters)
Fun Fact: Pterodactylus was the first pterosaur ever discovered in

1789. At first some scientists believed it was a swimming creature!
Artwork by Adrienne Stroup, Field Museum

4
Pterosaur Name: Rhamphorhynchus “ram-fo-RINK-us”
Name Meaning: Beak Snout
Fun Fact: Rhamphorhynchus had jaws filled with needle-like teeth,

and a diamond-shaped tip on its tail. This part of the tail likely
served as a rudder, to help the creature steer while flying.
5
Pterosaur Name: Pteranodon “tair-AN-o-don”
Name Meaning: Winged and Toothless
Wingspan: 20 feet (6.3 meters)—Male
Fun Fact: Many paleontologists believe that male and female

pteranodons were different in their body size (females were smaller)
and head crests (males had bigger crests).
6
Pterosaur Name: Quetzalcoatlus “ketz-uhl-ko-AT-lus”
Name Meaning: Feathered Serpent God
Fun Fact: One of the largest living creatures to ever fly,

Quetzalcoatlus was named after an Aztec god after it was
discovered in Texas in 1971 (named in 1975).
7
Pterosaur Name: Anurognathus “an-YOOR-og-NATH-us”
Name Meaning: Tailless Jaw
Wingspan: 20 inches (50 centimeters)
Fun Fact: This tiny pterosaur likely hunted insects using its big eyes
and silent wings covered in pycnofibers (fur-like feathery fibers on
the body).
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Pterosaursandtapemeasures

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Pterosaurs and Tape Measures

How big were these ancient flying reptiles, really?

Fun Fact: Pterodactylus was the first pterosaur ever discovered in

Artwork by Adrienne Stroup, Field Museum

Fun Fact: Rhamphorhynchus had jaws filled with needle-like teeth,

Fun Fact: Many paleontologists believe that male and female

Fun Fact: One of the largest living creatures to ever fly,

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