Pterosaurs
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Pteranodon. (2022). In Q-files Encyclopedia, Prehistoric, Pterosaurs. Retrieved from
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"Pteranodon." Prehistoric, Pterosaurs, Q-files Encyclopedia, 10 Feb. 2022.
https://www.q-files.com/prehistoric/pterosaurs/pteranodon.
Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.
Pteranodon 2022. Prehistoric, Pterosaurs. Retrieved 19 March 2024, from
https://www.q-files.com/prehistoric/pterosaurs/pteranodon
Prehistoric, Pterosaurs, s.v. "Pteranodon," accessed March 19, 2024.
https://www.q-files.com/prehistoric/pterosaurs/pteranodon
Pteranodon
Pteranodon was a large pterosaur from the pterodactyl group that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. It had a furry body with very short tail. Its long, stiff wings were made of skin stretching from an exceptionally long fourth finger to back legs. It had short legs with webbed feet. On top of its large, elongated skull was a prominent, backward-pointing, bony crest. Its long, curved, toothless bill had a throat pouch underneath. The name Pteranodon means “wings and no teeth”.
Flight
Pteranodon’s long wings were ideally suited for gliding on air currents above the oceans, just as an albatross flies today, keeping an eye out for fish in the surface waters below. It could travel for many kilometres without needing to flap its wings, a flight pattern known as “dynamic soaring”. Some scientists, however, suggest that Pteranodon, rather than just rely on gliding, did flap its wings and actively powered itself through the air.
Fish diet
The discovery of a Pteranodon fossil, which had fish bones in exactly the position where its throat pouch would have been had the soft tissue been preserved, provided evidence for how it fed—similar to a modern pelican. Pteranodon scooped up fish from the water’s surface in its long, narrow jaws and stored them in its throat pouch.
Crest
The function of Pteranodon's crest, sometimes as long as the skull itself, is not known. It could have assisted with stability in flight, or was used for steering or braking. Or it may have acted as a streamlined counterweight to Pteranodon’s heavy head. It may well have been used by males to impress females during courtship—and to intimidate other males. Pteranodon fossils, some with large crests and some with small ones, have been found close together. Females were probably the ones with smaller crests. This suggests that the main function of the crest was for courtship display in males. Different species of Pteranodon had different crest shapes.
Ornithocheirus
Ornithocheirus, a relative of Pteranodon, had a wingspan of up to 6 metres (19 feet). It lived off the coasts of Europe and South America about 125 million years ago, during the Cretaceous Period. Its distinguishing feature was the “keel” at the end of its toothed beak. This may have helped it trap fish or crush crustaceans. Having hollow bones, Ornithocheirus was relatively light for its size.
Facts about Pteranodon
Pronunciation: Tair-ANN-oh-don
Pteranodon sternbergi's wingspan: 9 m (30 ft)
Pteranodon longiceps's wingspan: 7 m (23 ft)
Where and when: Coasts of Europe and North America, 90–70 million years ago (Late Cretaceous)
Diet: Fish
Features: Long, stiff wings for gliding long distances with little effort; excellent eyesight for spotting fish at the surface of the sea; throat pouch for carrying fish; extra bone in the wrist joint, called the pteroid, for supporting the wings and assisting with steering in flight
Relatives: Nyctosaurus, Ornithocheirus (North America); Anhanguera (South America); Istiodactylus (Europe and Asia)
Consultant: Chris Jarvis