Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived alongside but were different from dinosaurs.

Pterosaurs 由词根 ptero-（意为"翅膀"）和 saur（意为"蜥蜴、爬行动物"）组成，字面意思是"有翼的蜥蜴"。这个词专指中生代时期会飞的爬行动物，即"翼龙"。