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Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Sky Trivia Quiz

My first quiz will test your knowledge of Pterosaurs, bird-like creatures that ruled the air back in the times when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

A multiple-choice quiz by thiefrikku. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
thiefrikku

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
207,018

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
534

Last 3 plays: Guest 134 (8/10), Guest 76 (6/10), Guest 97 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. OK, let's get things started! "Pterosaur" means: Hint

Winged Lizard

Big Beak Lizard

Bird Lizard

Dragon Lizard

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. When did the pterosaurs first appear? Hint

The Cambrian period

The Jurassic period

The Triassic period

The Cretaceous period

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. The earlier pterosaurs had stumps for tails.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. What was unique about the Pterodaustro? Hint

It fed by picking insects off of large dinosaurs

Its crest resembled the horns of a bull

It existed for a longer period of time than any other species

Its lower teeth were like the baleen of a whale

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What strange looking Pterosaur had a head and neck that were each longer than its body? Hint

Criorhynchus

Huanhepterus

Nyctosaurus

Tropeognathus

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. What was the largest known pterosaur? Hint

Pteranodon

Rhamphorhynchus

Ornithodesmus

Quetzalcoatlus

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What was the smallest known pterosaur? Hint

Anurognathus

Sordes

Dimorphodon

Tapejara

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What genus of pterosaurs appeared in Michael Crichton's book 'Jurassic Park'? Hint

Pteranodon

No pterosaurs were in the book

Pteradactyl

Cearadactyl

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Pterosaurs are made up of two groups: the earlier rhamphorhynchoids and the later... Hint

quetzalcoatlids

pteranodontids

pterodactyloids

monophyletic group

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. How did pterosaurs walk? Hint

It is not known for sure

On all fours, like a bat

On their hind legs, like a bird

They were unable to walk

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Most Recent Scores

Mar 30 2024 : Guest 134: 8/10
Mar 08 2024 : Guest 76: 6/10
Feb 23 2024 : Guest 97: 4/10
Feb 22 2024 : DeepHistory: 7/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. OK, let's get things started! "Pterosaur" means:

Answer: Winged Lizard

The name 'Pterosaur' comes from the Greek words 'Pteron' (wing) and 'Sauros' (lizard.)

2. When did the pterosaurs first appear?

Answer: The Triassic period

The pterosaurs existed from the Triassic to the Cretaceous period; that is, from 228 to 65 million years ago, when all the dinosaurs died out.

3. The earlier pterosaurs had stumps for tails.

Answer: False

Actually, quite the opposite! Many early Triassic pterosaurs had long tails, which turned into stumps in the later species.

4. What was unique about the Pterodaustro?

Answer: Its lower teeth were like the baleen of a whale

The Pterodaustro's lower teeth were very long and close together, suggesting that they filtered small fish and other food items from the water, like a whale's baleen.

5. What strange looking Pterosaur had a head and neck that were each longer than its body?

Answer: Huanhepterus

This unusual Chinese pterosaur had a 5 foot wing span and a ridiculously long head and neck.

6. What was the largest known pterosaur?

Answer: Quetzalcoatlus

The huge Quetzalcoatlus had a 36 foot wingspan. Another unusual feature of this pterosaur was its very thick wing bones.

7. What was the smallest known pterosaur?

Answer: Anurognathus

Anurognathus is the smallest discovered so far: it was the size of a sparrow!

8. What genus of pterosaurs appeared in Michael Crichton's book 'Jurassic Park'?

Answer: Cearadactyl

Although no pterosaurs were in Steven Spielberg's movie adaptation of 'Jurassic Park', there was a scene in the book in which Dr. Grant, Lex, and Tim entered the aviary and were attacked by Cearadactyls. However, Pteranodons did appear in 'The Lost World: Jurassic Park II' and 'Jurassic Park III'.

9. Pterosaurs are made up of two groups: the earlier rhamphorhynchoids and the later...

Answer: pterodactyloids

The second group of pterosaurs was called the pterodactyloids, named for the most famous pterosaur, the pterodactyl. However, both of the two groups together formed the monophyletic group.

10. How did pterosaurs walk?

Answer: It is not known for sure

This is an ongoing argument among paleontologists. Recently, scientist S. Christopher Bennett has come up with a new theory: he believes that the pterosaurs were primarily bipedal but held their body in a diagonal posture, using their forearms for support occasionally.

Source: Author thiefrikku

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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