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Pterosaurs are flying reptiles that are presumed extinct by mainstream scientists, though some cryptozoologists disagree. Pterodactyls are part of a larger group called the pterosaurs. These animals lived at the same time as the dinosaurs and are often labeled as dinosaurs by amateurs, though they are in fact a sister group to dinosaurs, both being archosaurs.

Pterosaur

Sightings[]

Reports of living pterosaurs of various types have come from many places, even urban areas, but those that seem the most plausible come from remote areas of the world such as the jungles of Africa and the rain forests of Papua New Guinea (a large island north of Australia).

Pterosaur Cryptids[]

In Africa, the most famous pterosaur-like sightings are of a flying animal called the Kongamato. It is described as red in color with no feathers, with bat-like wings, teeth in its snout, and is about six feet from wingtip to wingtip.

The Ropen of Papua New Guinea is another famous pterosaur look-alike that hasn't been confirmed by science. It is described in terms that more precisely fit a pterosaur than any other known creature.

The Van Meter Visitor is often speculated to be a pterosaur.


Explanations[]

The more plausible "pterosaur" accounts have begun receiving different interpretations in recent years. Now, researchers favor the idea of there being one or more undiscovered species of giant bats. Since bats can have very odd-shaped heads, it could be that some bats happen to look like pterosaurs. Other explanations have leaned more towards dragons, since the creatures in "pterosaur" sightings sometimes look like a cross between a dragon and a pterosaur. However, in order for that explanation to be correct, dragons would have to exist, a supposition yet to be proved.

It could be that the legends and sightings of dragons are actually pterosaurs, which seems more likely than dragons being sights.

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