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'''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are a probably extinct order or [[apobaramin]] of flying [[reptile]]s. Pterosaurs can be divided into two separate [[cladistics | clades]] or baramins: the '''pterodactyloids''' -- which were toothless, had short tails, and often grew to great sizes --  and the '''rhamphorhynchoids''' -- which were typically smaller and had teeth and long tails<ref>[http://hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/ptero/twogroups.htm The Two Pterosaur Groups: The Rhamphoryncoids and Pterodactyloids], Dr. Ken Hooper, 1998.</ref>. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources.

'''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are a probably extinct order or [[apobaramin]] of flying [[reptile]]s. Pterosaurs can be divided into two separate [[cladistics|clades]] or baramins: the '''pterodactyloids''' -- which were toothless, had short tails, and often grew to great sizes—and the '''rhamphorhynchoids''' -- which were typically smaller and had teeth and long tails.<ref>[http://hoopermuseum.earthsci.carleton.ca/ptero/twogroups.htm The Two Pterosaur Groups: The Rhamphoryncoids and Pterodactyloids], Dr. Ken Hooper, 1998.</ref> Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources.

==Evolutionary View==

==Evolutionary View==

==Cryptid accounts==

==Cryptid accounts==

There have been many reports of pterosaurs or pterosaur-like creatures throughout history and in present times<ref>[http://www.rae.org/egscphrv.html The Rhamphorhynchoid Pterosaur: A "Living Fossil" Until the 17th Century], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>.

There have been many reports of pterosaurs or pterosaur-like creatures throughout history and in present times.<ref>[http://www.rae.org/egscphrv.html The Rhamphorhynchoid Pterosaur: A "Living Fossil" Until the 17th Century], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>

The [[pagan]] [[historian]] [[Herodotus]] describes [[Arabian]] "winged serpents" as being small, varied in color, producing a horrible screech, and having wings very closely resembling those of a [[bat]]. They were said to have guarded the Arabian [[frankincense]] trees, which made harvesting of that precious aromatic resin very difficult, requiring the use of protective ox hides and smoke to disperse the animals<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book III, 107-110.</ref>. They were also said to live in the mountains near the city of [[Buto]] (where Herodotus saw their remains firsthand) and would every spring fly in great numbers towards [[Egypt]], kept in check only by flocks of [[ibises]] which preyed upon them. Arabian tradition held that, if not for ibis predation, the whole world would swarm with these pterosaurs<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book II, 75-76.</ref>. These "winged serpents" were corroborated by [[Aristotle]]<ref>''History of Animals'', Book I, Chapter V</ref> and [[Cicero]]<ref>''The Nature of the Gods'', Book I, Section XXXVI</ref>.

The [[pagan]] [[historian]] [[Herodotus]] describes [[Arabian]] "winged serpents" as being small, varied in color, producing a horrible screech, and having wings very closely resembling those of a [[bat]]. They were said to have guarded the Arabian [[frankincense]] trees, which made harvesting of that precious aromatic resin very difficult, requiring the use of protective ox hides and smoke to disperse the animals.<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book III, 107-110.</ref> They were also said to live in the mountains near the city of [[Buto]] (where Herodotus saw their remains firsthand) and would every spring fly in great numbers towards [[Egypt]], kept in check only by flocks of [[ibises]] which preyed upon them. Arabian tradition held that, if not for ibis predation, the whole world would swarm with these pterosaurs.<ref>''The History of Herodotus'', Book II, 75-76.</ref> These "winged serpents" were corroborated by [[Aristotle]]<ref>''History of Animals'', Book I, Chapter V</ref> and [[Cicero]].<ref>''The Nature of the Gods'', Book I, Section XXXVI</ref>

The [[Jewish]] historian [[Flavius Josephus]] recounts how [[Moses]], while serving as a general in the Egyptian army during the war with the [[Ethiopians]], employed a wonderful stratagem involving baskets of ibises to protected his men from serpents, "some of which ascend out of the ground unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at unawares, and do them a mischief."<ref>''Antiquities of the Jews'', Book II, Chapter X: "How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians"</ref> Also, according to the Bible, Moses, while later leading his people out of Egypt, had to deal with "fiery serpents", which some have proposed is actually a reference to flying reptiles<ref>''Deuteronomy'' 8:15 and ''Numbers'' 21:6-9 recount Moses' battles with these pterosaur-like animals. They are also mentioned in Isaiah 14:29 and Isaiah 30:6.</ref><ref>[http://www.rae.org/pteroets.html The Bible and Pterosaurs: Archaeological and Linguistic Studies of Jurassic Animals that Lived Recently], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>.

The [[Jewish]] historian [[Flavius Josephus]] recounts how [[Moses]], while serving as a general in the Egyptian army during the war with the [[Ethiopians]], employed a wonderful stratagem involving baskets of ibises to protected his men from serpents, "some of which ascend out of the ground unseen, and also fly in the air, and so come upon men at unawares, and do them a mischief."<ref>''Antiquities of the Jews'', Book II, Chapter X: "How Moses Made War With The Ethiopians"</ref> Also, according to the Bible, Moses, while later leading his people out of Egypt, had to deal with "fiery serpents", which some have proposed is actually a reference to flying reptiles.<ref>''Deuteronomy'' 8:15 and ''Numbers'' 21:6-9 recount Moses' battles with these pterosaur-like animals. They are also mentioned in Isaiah 14:29 and Isaiah 30:6.</ref><ref>[http://www.rae.org/pteroets.html The Bible and Pterosaurs: Archaeological and Linguistic Studies of Jurassic Animals that Lived Recently], John Goertzen, MS, 1998.</ref>

In more modern times, according to late-20th Century reports, the people of [[Papua New Guinea]] have reported two distinct species of pterosaurs-like creatures: the small ''Ropen'' and the large pterodactyl-like [http://www.ropens.com/duah-ropen/ Duah]; but an early 21st Century [http://www.laattorneyvideo.com/nonlegal/pterosaurs/news-rel/ investigation] suggests that many native names (from villlages with many different languages) may refer to the same species or related species. The creatures are said to [[bioluminescence | bioluminesce]], a trait that was undoubtedly original to the pterosaur [[baraminology | baramins]] and would explain the Biblical appellation of "fiery".<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts "Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea"], Free Republic, 20 July 2006.</ref>

In more modern times, according to late-20th Century reports, the people of [[Papua New Guinea]] have reported two distinct species of pterosaurs-like creatures: the small ''Ropen'' and the large pterodactyl-like [http://www.ropens.com/duah-ropen/ Duah]; but an early 21st Century [http://www.laattorneyvideo.com/nonlegal/pterosaurs/news-rel/ investigation] suggests that many native names (from villlages with many different languages) may refer to the same species or related species. The creatures are said to [[bioluminescence|bioluminesce]], a trait that was undoubtedly original to the pterosaur [[baraminology|baramins]] and would explain the Biblical appellation of "fiery".<ref>[http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts "Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea"], Free Republic, 20 July 2006.</ref>

Pterosaurs have also been reported in [[Africa]] -- where they go by the name ''Kongamato'' ("Overwhelmer of boats") throughout Central Africa, ''Sasabonsam'' in Ghana, and ''Olitiau'' in Cameroon and Nigeria -- and in the Americas, where [[Native Americans]] tell of large bird-like creatures with reptilian characteristics, including the [[Thunderbird]] of the Southwest and the ''Quetzalcoatl'' of [[Central America]].

Pterosaurs have also been reported in [[Africa]]—where they go by the name ''Kongamato'' ("Overwhelmer of boats") throughout Central Africa, ''Sasabonsam'' in Ghana, and ''Olitiau'' in Cameroon and Nigeria—and in the Americas, where [[Native Americans]] tell of large bird-like creatures with reptilian characteristics, including the [[Thunderbird]] of the Southwest and the ''Quetzalcoatl'' of [[Central America]].

==References==

==References==