pter·o·dac·tyl 
(tĕr′ə-dăktəl)
(tĕr′ə-dăktəl)n.
Any of various pterosaurs of the group Pterodactyloidea of the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, having a short tail or no tail, and including the pteranodons.
[New Latin Pterodactylus, genus name : Greek pteron, feather, wing; see -PTER + Greek daktulos, finger.]
pter′o·dacty·loid′ n. & adj.