Pteranodon, whose name means “winged and toothless”, was a pterosaur which inhabited the center of North America during the late Cretaceous Period 86-79 million years ago. Fossils of this iconic prehistoric flying reptile have been found in South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Alabama.
During the Santonian Stage of the late Cretaceous Period, the central third of North America was submerged under the Western Interior Seaway. Here lived many amazing prehistoric creatures such as mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, giant sea turtles, large carnivorous fish, and also pterosaurs including Pteranodon. This creature likely made its living along the seashore like many seabirds do today, swooping down and catching fish swimming close to the water’s surface. It’s uncertain if Pteranodon was able to dive into the water to catch fish.
Pteranodon, and more specifically the species Pteranodon longiceps, is perhaps the most well known and easily recognized of all of the pterosaurs, and with good reason. Since its fossils were first discovered in 1871, nearly 1,200 specimens (mostly isolated fragmentary bones) have been found of this animal, including numerous complete or nearly-complete skeletons, so we know more about its anatomy than any other pterosaur. A small number of males were able to attain a wingspan 25 feet in width, but most males usually had a wingspan 18-20 feet wide. The females were about 25-33% smaller than the males, typically having a 12 foot wingspan. Pteranodon longiceps is most distinctive for its long curved knife-like crest sticking out of the back of its head. However, only the males had this feature, while the females had a short stubby rounded crest. Because of the sheer number of Pteranodon longiceps fossils which have been found, this is the pterosaur that the general public is most familiar with. Pteranodon has been illustrated in practically every children’s book about prehistoric life, and there’s also a good chance that your local natural history museum has a Pteranodon skeleton on display in it…which is usually a composite skeleton fashioned from multiple isolated bones.
Pteranodon longiceps, male (left) and female (right).
© Jason R. Abdale (November 22, 2025).
There might be a second species of Pteranodon, named P. sternbergi, which had a more nebulous-shaped crest similar in profile to a rather baggy mitten giving a thumbs-up. However, other paleontologists classify this animal as a separate genus named Geosternbergia. It also existed at a slightly earlier time, from 88-85 MYA.
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Categories: Paleontology, Uncategorized
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