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:

Quick Facts

How Was It Discovered?

Pteranodon was discovered by Othniel Charles Marsh in 1870 in a formation called Monument Rocks in what is today western Kansas. Notably, these fossils didn’t include a skull.

It wasn’t named until 1871, originally called Pterodactylus oweni by Marsh. However, in 1876, Samuel Wendell Williston discovered the first skull of this Pterosaur, which showed how different it was from the original classified genus. 

Thus, it was given its own genus, Pteranodon, and given the species longiceps.

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…

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!

Pteranodon Skull, Beak, and Wings

Pteranodon was a flying Pterosaur with large wings allowing it to soar high in the air, and glide long distances with minimal effort.

They also had a very lightweight body, long, leathery wings, and huge breastbones for flying. Its body was likely covered in light fuzz.

Based on the shape of its wings, it would likely have launched with one powerful burst, then glided rather than flapped like a bird.

Its skull is one of its most notable features. It featured a very long, prominent head crest which extended backwards straight out from its head.

Their beaks were toothless and a pelican-like jaw, made for consuming fish whole.

How Big Was It?

These giant flying reptiles had massive wingspans, but were actually relatively lightweight to support their flight. 

• Around 6 feet tall
• Wingspan of 18-33 feet
• Weighed around 20-50 pounds

The key to being so large but staying light enough to fly is their hollow bones and lanky structure. 

Pteranodon Family Tree

Pteranodons are not dinosaurs, but rather it is an animal called a pterosaur, meaning winged lizard/reptile. 

Why are Pterosaurs different from Dinosaurs? Simply because dinosaurs have a hole in the hip socket and other physical characteristics that make them dinosaurs that Pterosaurs don’t have. 

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Family: Pteranodontidae

Subfamily: Pteranodontinae

Tribe: Pteranodontini

Genus: Pteranodon

Species: Pteranodon longiceps 

Name Meaning

Pteranodon (ter-AN-oh-don) longiceps (LON-jih-seps) has two parts to its scientific name. 

Pterandon is derived from the Greek 

• Pteron meaning Wing
• An meaning Without 
• Odon meaning Tooth

Together, Pteranodon means Toothless Wing.

Longiceps 

• Longus meaning long
• -Ceps meaning headed

Together, Longiceps means long-headed, a perfect description for one of the most iconic features of this Pterosaur.

Pteranodon Senses

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.

Fun Facts For Kids

• 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 Light: Much like modern birds, Pteranodon has hollow bones and a very lightweight frame, which is needed for being able to fly long distances.

FAQ