It is widely considered to be extinct, and is only found by resurrecting it from the Old Amber.
Physiology
A ferocious, prehistoric Pokémon, it possesses serrated, saw-blade-like fangs that it uses to tear through the throats of its prey. Its wings have skin stretched from its side to its arms. The triangular-shaped tip of its tail is gray, as is the tail itself, which is connected to its oval-shaped body. Aerodactyl have dark green eyes, though the iris is barely visible.
Gender differences
None.
Special abilities
Aerodactyl is capable of flying at great speeds and tearing through prey with its fangs. It is also very durable due to its rock-hard body. Aerodactyl also shows some form of relationship to Dragons, thus allowing it to learn Dragon- and Fire-type moves such as Dragon Claw, Fire Blast, and Flamethrower.
Behavior
Aerodactyl's preferred method of killing its victims is by tearing through their throats with its serrated, saw-like fangs.
The exact habitat of Aerodactyl is unknown. Even though living samples have been found underground in caves, so far most Aerodactyl are revived from Old Amber. It most likely lived in mountainous areas.
In the episode Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, Ash's Pokédex states "Its hard fangs suggest it might have been a carnivore. Its sharp claws were probably used to capture prey." Despite this analysis, in the episode Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl, the Aerodactyl seemed to enjoy eating a pear-like fruit that grew in the forests of an island, would would imply this it was more of a herbivore.
Fossils of Kabutops and Aerodactyl were resurrected by Annie and Oakley in Pokémon Heroes; in the English dub, they were once used by an evil Pokémon Trainer to torment the civilians of Alto Mare, but were drowned when a Latios brought water to the city. They were sent to chase after Ash and Latias. They have blank, yellow-tinted eyes with no pupils and are lined with a thick black outline.
Red obtains an Aerodactyl from a resurrected piece of Old Amber which he revives in Holy Moltres. He has since then used it extensively for aerial transportation and combat.
Lance has his own Aerodactyl that he also uses for aerial transportation and combat.
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire: In the Ruby Field, once an egg has been hatched, Aerodactyl will fly by and replace it the next time the ball rolls into the Egg Stand.
Pokédex entries
This Pokémon was unavailable prior to Generation I.
Aerodactyl is a Pokémon from the age of dinosaurs. It was regenerated from genetic material extracted from amber. It is imagined to have been the king of the skies in ancient times.
Aerodactyl is a Pokémon from the age of dinosaurs. It was regenerated from DNA extracted from amber. It is imagined to have been the king of the skies.
In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Aerodactyl was originally known as "Ptera", from its Japanese name.
Aerodactyl's German and French names are the same as its English and Japanese names, respectively.
During its first appearance in Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, it was mentioned that Aerodactyl was carnivorous, based on its teeth (and the reactions of the other fossil Pokémon when it arrived). However, in Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl, it is shown and proven to be at least omnivorous, based on its joyful consumption of fruit.
Aerodactyl is the only fossil Pokémon that does not have an evolution or pre-evolution.
It is also the only fossil Pokémon that can be obtained in any way other than breeding it or reviving its fossil: it is available through an in-game trade in Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal and is one of Hayley's trades.
It appears to be based upon pterosaurs, prehistoric flying reptiles, particularly the rhamphorhynchoidea branch, due to Aerodactyl's possession of teeth and a long tail. It also seems to possess some dragon-like characteristics, such as that of a wyvern, a two legged variety of dragon, which would explain its being on Lance's team.
Name origin
Aerodactyl is a combination of aero, Greek for air, or aeroplane, and the similar sounding pterodactyl. Ptera is simply an abbreviation of pterosaur.
This Pokémon article is part of Project Pokédex, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on each Pokémon species, as well as Pokémon groups and forms.