One of the most famous pterosaurs, Pteranodon was the king of the Cretaceous skies. It was also the first pterosaur discovered in North America (in 1871). Abundant in the Niobrara Chalk Formation of western Kansas, thousands of specimens have been collected to date. Most fossils are very fragmentary, and only one complete skeleton is known. Its most distinctive feature is the elongated crest extending from the back of its head (equivalent to the forehead in humans); the largest skulls reached 1.8 meters in length. Two types are recognized based on the crest shape: longiceps and sternbergi. With a wingspan of over 7 meters, it is believed to have glided like a glider on updrafts using its wings. It is thought to have primarily eaten fish, snatching them from near the water's surface. Since it had no teeth, it likely swallowed its prey whole. Pterosaurs were giant flying reptiles that dominated the skies where dinosaurs lived. They were mysterious creatures that were neither birds nor dinosaurs.

English Name: Pteranodon Origin of Name: "Winged and Toothless" Classification: Order Pterosauria / Suborder Pterodactyloidea / Family Pteranodontidae Size: Length Wingspan 7 meters (largest individuals may have reached 9 meters) / Estimated Weight 15-20 kg Period: Late Cretaceous (85 million years ago)

Long Crest

The shape of the crest varies by species and is one of the criteria for classification. Pteranodon longiceps has a crest that extends backward, while Pteranodon sternbergi's crest is more vertical and significantly bulges forward. There are various theories about the crest's function, such as a rudder, sail, radiator, or courtship display, but the most recent and prominent theory suggests it was a display to distinguish between sexes. The largest skulls reached 1.8 meters in length.

Flight Method

Pteranodon's wings were not very strong, and its primary flight method is believed to have been gliding like a glider on updrafts, using minimal muscular effort. It was likely not adept at powerful flapping.

Light Body

Pterosaurs had very light bodies for flight, with skulls, shoulder blades, and pelvises composed of bones only 2-3mm thick. The internal structure of the bones was a honeycomb with small holes. Their estimated weight was thought to be 15-20 kilograms.

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