A shadow engulfs you momentarily, before you see a huge Pteranodon swoop down into the sea to grab a fish out of the sea in front of you.
This flying reptile soared through the sky before birds even existed; however, it wasn’t actually a dinosaur. Rather, Pteranodon belongs to a group of flying reptiles called pterosaurs.
With a wingspan as wide as a small plane and its famous large head crest, Pteranodon was built for life in the air, the seas of the Cretaceous Period. Let’s look at what made this Pterosaur so amazing:
Pteranodon Basic Information
- Name: Pteranodon
- Pronunciation: ter-AN-oh-don
- Meaning: Toothless Wing
- Time-Period: Late Cretaceous Period (about 86–84 million years ago)
- Group: Pterosaur
- Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Reptilia
- Family: Pteranodontidae
- Subfamily: Pteranodontinae
- Tribe: Pteranodontini
- Genus: Pteranodon
- Species: Pteranodon longiceps
- Diet: Carnivore
- Fossil Locations: North America
Where Did Pteranodon Live?
Pteranodons lived long ago during the Late Cretaceous Period, when the Earth looked much different from today. In the Middle of North America would have been a large shallow sea!
Their fossils have been found in:
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- South Dakota
The Pteranodon would have lived near this large sea, so it was built for life in the air and for being near water. Let’s look at how unique this flying reptile was…
Pteranodon Physical Characteristics
Pteranodon was a flying reptile with large wings allowing it to soar high in the air, and glide long distances with minimal effort.
- Size (Length/Height): Wingspan of 18-33 feet
- Notable Features: A long, pointy beak with a head crest, and huge spanning wings.
- Weight: around 20-50 pounds
- Appearance: Pteranodon had a very lightweight body, with long leathery wings, and huge breast bones for flying. Its body was likely covered in light fuzz.
- Mouth: They had toothless beaks and a pelican-like jaw, made for consuming fish whole.
- Eyesight: Likely had very good eyesight for fishing from above the water
- Smell: It likely had a decent sense of smell for being aware of other animals.
- Hearing: Most likely, they had good hearing, for being aware of their surroundings when on land.
What Did Pteranodon Eat?
Being a flying carnivore that lived near a sea meant that it spent most of its time flying over the ocean, fishing for food.
- Fish
- Squid
- Other small sea creatures
With a sharp beak and brilliant eyesight, Pteranodon was one of the most skilled hunters of the skies. Let’s look at some other fun facts about this fascinating flyer!
Fun Facts
- Not a Dinosaur: Pteranodon wasn’t actually a dinosaur; it was a type of flying reptile classified as a pterosaur
- Toothless: The Pteranodon had a sharp beak, with no teeth; in fact, its name means “toothless wing.”
- Crested Pterosaur: Pteranodons had various crests of various sizes, likely to attract mates, and these crests could vary based on gender.
- Bird-Like Hunter: While fishing, it may have skimmed above the water and dived down to catch fish, much like modern-day birds.
- Huge but Large: Much like modern birds, Pteranodon has hollow bones and a very lightweight frame, which is needed for being able to fly long distances.