Pteranodon was a pterosaur, a type of flying reptile. It was not a dinosaur, though it lived during the same period. Pteranodon lived during the Late Cretaceous and resided in North America. The first Pteranodon fossil was discovered in 1876.

With its kite-like body and wing structure, and a streamlined beak and crest, the Pteranodon is an airborne monster built for speed. However, the Pteranodon is not actually a dinosaur, but a pterosaur. This academic distinction doesn’t seem to have hurt its reputation among dinosaur lovers, and the Pteranodon is very often depicted alongside dinosaurs.

The Pteranodon dwelt along the Western Interior Seaway, an ocean channel that would eventually become dry land in western North America. It had a wingspan of up to 20 feet, and its flight pattern probably resembled that of a large sea-bird. Its diet included fish, which may have resulted in the distinct formation of it’s spear-like skull and beak, adapted for diving from a great height to catch a meal.

Quick facts about Pteranodon:

  • Existed from 89.8 million years ago to 70.6 million years ago
  • Lived in a marine environment
  • Was a piscivore
  • Could fly
  • Had a body mass of approximately 36680 g
  • 39 different specimens have been found by paleontologists

All the Pteranodon illustrations below were collected from the internet. Enjoy and explore: