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Pteranodon Facts
Pteranodon Facts
Species Type
: Pteranodon longiceps
Genus
: Pteranodon
Period
: Late Cretaceous
Diet
: Meat (carnivorous)
Wingspan
: Over 23 feet
Total Specimens
: About 1,200
First Discovered
: 1870
20 Pteranodon Facts for Kids
The first Pteranodon was discovered in 1870 by American Paleontologist Othniel Charles Marsh.
The first Pteranodon was discovered in Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk Formation (North America).
The Pteranodon got its scientific name Pteranodon longiceps in 1876, from Othniel Charles Marsh.
The name Pteranodon means: “Toothless Wing”.
The Pteranodon is not a dinosaur, it’s a pterosaur, which is a group containing the largest known flying reptiles.
There are two recognized species of Pteranodons, the P. longiceps and P. sternbergi.
The Pteranodon lived during the Late Cretaceous Period.
The Pteranodon lived between 88 and 84.5 million years ago.
The Pteranodon lived in what is now known as modern day North America.
The most recognizable feature of the Pteranodon was their large cranial crests.
The Pteranodon is believed to have been a piscivore, with a diet consisting mostly of fish.
Pteranodons had no teeth, but rather a sharp beak like some modern day birds.
Male Pteranodons were considerably larger than female Pteranodons.
Pteranodons were able to fly and some paleontologists think they would have flown like the modern-day albatross.
Pteranodons could initiate flight from standing position and didn’t need to glide off large objects.
The average wingspan of a male Pteranodon is 18 feet.
The average wingspan of a female Pteranodon is 12 feet.
There is no accurate estimate of the weight of the Pteranodon.
Unreliable weight estimates of the Pteranodon range from as little as 44 pounds to as high as 205 pounds.
There have been over 1,000 specimens recovered since the first discovery in 1870.
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Pteranodon Pictures
An illustration of a pteranodon flying over a mountain.
Credit: Ghetty Images
An illustration of a pteranodon being attacked by a predator.
Credit: Ghetty Images
An illustration of three pteranodons flying over an island.
Credit: Ghetty Images
An illustration of a pteranodon flying over big lake.
Credit: Ghetty Images
An illustration of two pteranodons flying over the ocean.
Credit: Ghetty Images
An illustration of two pteranodons flying over the coast.
Credit: Ghetty Images
Additional Resources on Pteranodon
About the Pteranodon
– Find more facts and information about the Pteranodon on the LiveScience website.
About Pterosauria
– Learn about Pterosauria on the Berkeley University website.
Pteranodon - Britannica
– Discover more facts about the Pteranodon on the Britannica website.