The Label reads:
| Pterodactylus
kochi Kimmeridgian Eichstadt, Bavaria |
The Genus is Pterodactylus and the species is P. kochi.
Kimmeridgian refers to the time when this species was alive - when the Kimmeridge clays were being deposited in Europe, about 130 million years ago.
Eichstadt is the place where the fossil was found, in the state of Bavaria, in Germany.
Pterodactylus Kochi
This Fossil was preserved in a rock called Lithographic Limestone. The particles in the rock were so fine that the bones were completely preserved and some of the skin has also survived, though it is very difficult to see in a photograph.
This animal was fossilised very quickly, before it could be damaged or eaten by other animals and before bacteria could start to decompose the carcass. This small pterodactyl would have had a wingspan of about 35 cm (14 inches) and a large P. kochi would have had a wingspan of 80 cm (32 inches)
The image on this page may be used for school projects and assignments. The image is free of copyright restrictions. If the image is to be used on a website, a link to the pterosaur database would be appreciated.