Aerodactyl's serrated saw-like fangs and ferocious attitude were very imposing in its time. Its fangs can rip out throats and tear through the skin of any Pokémon to pieces, even Steel-type Pokémon. By spreading its wings, Aerodactyl is believed to have flown by gliding through the skies, freely letting out its high-pitched cries. However, it is slow to walk on land. It liked to nest in the mountains, where it enjoyed both safety and seclusion. Aerodactyl lived in prehistoric times, and was theorized to become extinct thanks to a giant meteor impact. It was restored in modern times using genetic material extracted from amber; some casualties occurred during these attempts. Even still, this restoration is not considered perfect.
As Mega Aerodactyl, its eyes turn bright green and parts of its body turn to stone, which some researchers believe to be its original appearance before fossilization. It grows larger and sprouts jagged black spiky rocks all over its body: five spikes at the wrist joint of each wing replacing its hands, three small spikes along its tail, one spike on each ear, and a long spike on its chin. The spike on its back and its rear talons have also become black and stony. Rocky plates cover its eyebrows and the corners of its jaw. Similar stone ornaments are present on its chest on its torso: two small ridges flanking a longer ridge.
Evolution data
Sprites
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This Pokémon is unavailable in Generation IX.
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In the anime
Main series
Mega Aerodactyl in the anime
Major appearances
In Restore and Renew!, Goh found an Old Amber in the Pewter Museum of Science, which was revived into an Aerodactyl due to Team Rocket's intervention. It went berserk as a result, but Goh caught it after calming it down.
Other
Aerodactyl debuted in Attack of the Prehistoric Pokémon, where it scared off the other Kantonian Fossil Pokémon that were chasing Ash and Team Rocket. It then kidnapped Ash, who was rescued by Jigglypuff's song. Todd took a photo of this Aerodactyl, which was seen in Pokémon Paparazzi. The same Aerodactyl appeared in a flashback in Who Gets To Keep Togepi? and The Fires of a Red-Hot Reunion!.
In Pokémon Heroes: Latios & Latias, an Aerodactyl was resurrected from a fossil alongside a giant Kabutops by Annie and Oakley. In the English dub, it was described as having been used by an evil Trainer to torment the civilians of Alto Mare but was drowned when a Latios brought water to the city. It was ordered to chase after Ash and Latias. It had blank, yellow-tinted eyes with no pupils and a thick black outline.
In Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl!, an Aerodactyl was revived by Gary Oak. It seemed to enjoy eating a pear-like fruit that grew in the forests of an island. Team Rocket agents Butch and Cassidy wanted to steal this Aerodactyl and present it to Dr. Namba, but were stopped by Gary's Umbreon and Dodrio, and the Aerodactyl itself, who sent the two Rockets flying with a Hyper Beam.
In Wild in the Streets, Team Rocket accidentally revived an Aerodactyl from its fossil. Angered and confused, it terrorized Oreburgh City. It was eventually stopped by Dawn's Piplup and Buneary before Dr. Kenzo caught it
In A League of His Own!, Trevor was revealed to have caught an Aerodactyl. It was used in his battle against Alain in the Lumiose Conference, where it went up against Charizard but was soon defeated.
In Showdown at the Gates of Warp!, an Aerodactyl appeared under the ownership of Alternate World Goh.
An Aerodactyl appeared in HZ043, under the ownership of Sidian.
Minor appearances
An Aerodactyl Egg in the
anime
In Fossil Fools, a realistic Aerodactyl robot was part of the Ancient Pokémon Study Park exhibit.
Two Aerodactyl appeared in a fantasy in Where's Armaldo?.
In Lucario and the Mystery of Mew, two Aerodactyl were flying within the Tree of Beginning, while a third was in the opening sequence of the movie.
Two Mirage Aerodactyl appeared in The Mastermind of Mirage Pokémon, one of which kidnapped Professor Oak and Dr. Yung.
An Aerodactyl appeared in a fantasy in A Gruff Act to Follow!.
An Aerodactyl made a brief cameo appearance in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky - Beyond Time & Darkness.
An Aerodactyl appeared in the opening sequence of Zoroark: Master of Illusions.
An Aerodactyl that can Mega Evolve into Mega Aerodactyl appeared in the opening of Mega Evolution Special I.
In Coming Back Into The Cold!, an Aerodactyl skeleton exhibit was in the Ambrette Town laboratory.
In The Tiny Caretaker!, two Aerodactyl were being looked after by a group of Scientists.
In Alola to New Adventure!, an Aerodactyl fossil was in the Pokémon School.
An Aerodactyl appeared in I Choose You!.
In The Mew from Here!, a Aerodactyl was seen on Faraway Island.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP046
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Aerodactyl
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Ash's Pokédex
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Aerodactyl, an extinct Flying Pokémon. Its hard fangs suggest that it was a carnivore. Its sharp claws were probably used to capture prey.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP017
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Aerodactyl
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Aerodactyl, the Fossil Pokémon. An ancient Flying type, it is equipped with sharp saw-like teeth.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN038
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Aerodactyl
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Aerodactyl, the Fossil Pokémon. A Rock and Flying type. Aerodactyl ruled the skies in ancient times, but went extinct when a giant asteroid struck the planet.
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Pokémon Origins
An Aerodactyl Fossil appeared in File 1: Red.
An Aerodactyl appeared in a fantasy in File 4: Charizard.
In the manga
Mega Aerodactyl in Pokémon Adventures
How I Became a Pokémon Card
An Aerodactyl appeared in Fossil + Pokémon = Aerodactyl!? where it got revived from an Old Amber.
Pokémon Adventures
- Main article: Aero
In Holy Moltres, an Aerodactyl appears as a silhouette in Blaine's fantasy of what the Old Amber would turn into when it would be revived. Later, Red obtains an Aerodactyl from a resurrected piece of Old Amber which he revives in Holy Moltres and names him Aero. He has since then used him extensively for aerial transportation and combat.
Lance has his own Aerodactyl that he also uses for aerial transportation and combat which first appeared in Extricated from Exeggutor. He also owns multiple other Aerodactyl which were used in his Dragon-type army that were used to attack the mainlands of Kanto. They first appeared in Playing Horsea.
An Aerodactyl capable of Mega Evolving appeared in a fantasy in Trevenant Pokes.
Pokémon Pocket Monsters
An Aerodactyl appeared in Big Rampage at the Safari Zone!?.
An Aerodactyl appeared in Clefairy Evolves... At Last?!.
Lance owns an Aerodactyl, as seen in Space Havoc!!.
An Aerodactyl appeared in The Ancient Pokémon Discovery!.
Pokémon Ruby-Sapphire
An Aerodactyl appeared in Find The Ancient Pokémon!!.
In the TCG
- Main article: Aerodactyl (TCG)
Skeletal sprites
Trivia
- In the Pokémon Red and Green beta, Aerodactyl was revived using a Wing Fossil, which formed a trio with the Helix Fossil and Dome Fossil.
- Aerodactyl shares its category with Arctovish, Arctozolt, Dracovish, and Dracozolt. They are all known as the Fossil Pokémon.
- Aerodactyl was the inspiration for the naming of Aerodactylus, a genus of pterosaurs. The genus name was chosen in reference to Aerodactyl having traits derived from various pterosaur species.[1]
- Aerodactyl is the only Fossil Pokémon with a Mega Evolved form.
- In the Pokémon Red and Blue beta, Aerodactyl was originally known as "Ptera", its Japanese name.
- Aerodactyl is the only Pokémon owned by Lance and Clair in the core series who is not a Dragon-type Pokémon nor a Pokémon belonging to the Dragon Egg group.
- This is likely due to pterosaurs being known as "winged dragons" (翼竜 yokuryū) in Japanese, further explaining why it is called a "dragon" by an old man in Pewter Museum of Science in Generations I, III, and VII, as well as suggesting why its appearance is influenced by that of wyverns.
- Mega Aerodactyl has the highest base Speed stat of all Rock-type Pokémon.
- Aerodactyl is one of four non-Hoenn Dex Pokémon available in Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire. The others are Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile.
- Mega Aerodactyl has a unique base stat total of 615.
- Aerodactyl is the only Generation I Rock-type Pokémon to not possess a 4× weakness to Grass-type moves.
- Aerodactyl is the first Fossil Pokémon to have its Egg shown in the anime.
- In the Pocket Monsters Encyclopedia, Aerodactyl would be stated to be the predecessor of birds. This, alongside many facts in the book, would be retconned by future content in the games, specifically the introduction of Archeops.
Origin
Aerodactyl's design is mostly based on rhamphorhynchids, a family of toothed pterosaurs that lived in the Jurassic period. However, its pointed wings, spaded tail, and robust jaws also give it the resemblance of a dragon, specifically wyverns.
The rocks that appear on Mega Aerodactyl's body is a reference to atavism whereby an ancestral genetic trait reappears after having been lost through evolutionary change in previous generations. The rock on Mega Aerodactyl's chin is similar to goatee.
Name origin
Aerodactyl may be a combination of ἀέρος aéros (Greek for air) and pterodactyl.
Ptera may be derived from pterosaur or Pteranodon.
In other languages
Language
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Title
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Meaning
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Japanese
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プテラ Ptera
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From pterosaur
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French
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Ptéra
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Same as Japanese name
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Spanish
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Aerodactyl
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Same as English name
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German
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Aerodactyl
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Same as English name
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Italian
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Aerodactyl
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Same as English name
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Korean
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프테라 Ptera
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Mandarin Chinese
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化石翼龍 / 化石翼龙 Huàshíyìlóng
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From 化石 huàshí and 翼龍 / 翼龙 yìlóng
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Cantonese Chinese
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化石飛龍 Fasehkyihklùhng* 化石飛龍 Fasehkfēilùhng*
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From 化石 fasehk and 翼龍 yihklùhng From 化石 fasehk and 翼龍 fēilùhng
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More languages
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Hindi
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ऐरोडैक्टिल Aerodactyl
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Transcription of English name
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Russian
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Аэродактиль Aerodaktil'
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Transcription of English name
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Thai
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พเทอรา Phathoera
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Transcription of Japanese name
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Related articles
References
External links