GnathostomataPteranodontidae

Pteranodon longiceps

Pteranodon longiceps skeletal reconstruction, left lateral view, length ~2.2 m, wingspan ~6.3 m.
Scale bar = 1 meter
Taxon
Pteranodon longiceps Marsh, 1876
Reconstructed length
~2.2 m (7 feet)
Wingspan
~6.3 m
Sex
Male
View
Left lateral
Drawing
© Scott Hartman
Drawn
2012
Clade
  1. Gnathostomata
  2. Tetrapoda
  3. Amniota
  4. Sauropsida
  5. Archosauromorpha
  6. Archosauria
  7. Avemetatarsalia
  8. Pterosauria
  9. Pterodactyloidea
  10. Pteranodontidae

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Pteranodon is the iconic, crested pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America, where it soared over the Western Interior Seaway on wings spanning six meters (20 feet) or more. With a toothless beak, Pteranodon may have caught fish on the wing as it soared over the seaway. Pterosaurs were not dinosaurs, but they were quite close relatives.

Pteranodon was featured in Jurassic Park III, and an animated family of them were the stars of the popular kids show Dinosaur Train.

In flight (alternate pose)

Pteranodon longiceps — In flight (alternate pose).
Drawn 2017

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