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Line 1: − Extensive fossil evidence indicates that that they were buried throughout the [[Mesozoic Era]] group of rocks. This is consistent with the evolutionary belief that they were the first [[vertebrates]] to achieve powered flight.+ − + + + − + + + + + + + + + + + − *[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/pterosauria.html Introduction to the Pterosauria]. Accessed 13 May 2007.
expanded on extant pterosaur reports
'''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are an extinct order of flying [[reptile]]s. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources.
'''Pterosaurs''' (Greek "winged lizards") are an extinct order of flying [[reptile]]s. Their varied skull morphology likely allowed them to exploit numerous food sources.
==Evolutionary View==
==Creationist view==
Evolutionists claim that fossil evidence indicates that that they were buried throughout the [[Mesozoic Era]] group of rocks. This is consistent with the evolutionary belief that they were the first [[vertebrates]] to achieve powered flight.<ref>[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/pterosauria.html Introduction to the Pterosauria]. Accessed 13 May 2007.</ref>
==Creationary View==
While the [[Great Flood]] explains the current absence of many species in the [[fossil record]] such as terrestrial [[dinosaurs]], it is more problematic to use this to explain the absence of pterosaurs, who like birds could avoid being drowned through flight. Possible explanations are that because pterosaurs are [[reptile]]s, not [[birds]], their [[bone]]s would not have been hollow and could probably not support sustained [[flight]] for long periods.
While the [[Great Flood]] explains the current absence of many species in the [[fossil record]] such as terrestrial [[dinosaurs]], it is more problematic to use this to explain the absence of pterosaurs, who like birds could avoid being drowned through flight. Possible explanations are that because pterosaurs are [[reptile]]s, not [[birds]], their [[bone]]s would not have been hollow and could probably not support sustained [[flight]] for long periods.
However, there is also the possibility that some pterosaurs have survived to this day in remote areas <ref>http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1669608/posts Free Republic, 20 July 2006 "Pterosaur-like Creatures Reported in Papua New Guinea"</ref>. If this were true, then one could incontrovertibly rule out the [[meteor]] extinction event commonly used by [[evolutionist]]s to explain the demise of many species.
==Extant Pterosaurs==
However, there is also the possibility that some pterosaurs have survived to this day in remote areas. 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 [[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 flying serpents<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, the people of [[Papua New Guinea]] have reported two distinct species of pterosaurs-like creatures: the small ''Ropen'' and the large pterodactyl-like ''Duah''. Both 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]].
==References==
==References==
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[[Category:reptiles]]
[[Category:reptiles]]