Pteranodon
Pteranodon longiceps
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<dinofyi-dinosaur slug="pteranodon"></dinofyi-dinosaur>While technically a pterosaur rather than a dinosaur, Pteranodon is often grouped with dinosaurs in popular culture. It had a wingspan of up to 7 meters and a distinctive cranial crest. It soared over the Western Interior Seaway.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Human Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 1.8 m | about the size of a human adult |
| Height | 0.6 m | — |
| Weight | 25 kg | lighter than a human adult |
Diet & Feeding
Pteranodon was a fish-eating dinosaur. Piscivores typically lived near water sources and had specialized adaptations such as elongated snouts and conical teeth for catching fish.
Time Period
Pteranodon lived during the Cretaceous Late period of the Mesozoic Era, approximately 100.5 to 66.0 million years ago.
The final age of dinosaurs, featuring iconic species like Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Velociraptor. Dinosaurs reached their peak diversity before the catastrophic asteroid impact at the Chicxulub crater ended the Mesozoic Era.
Discovery & Naming
| Named By | Othniel Charles Marsh |
| Discovery Year | 1876 |
| Discovery Location | Smoky Hill Chalk, Kansas, USA |
Classification
Beast feet
Bipedal, mostly carnivorous dinosaurs that include the largest land predators ever to live. Theropods gave rise to modern birds. Ranges from tiny Compsognathus to massive Tyrannosaurus rex.
Size Comparison
At 1.8 meters long and 25.0 kg, Pteranodon was about the size of a human adult and lighter than a human adult.
Other dinosaurs from the same period:
Quick Facts
| Classification | Theropoda |
| Geologic Period | Cretaceous Late |
| Diet | Piscivore |
| Size | 1.8m long, 0.6m tall, 25.0kg |
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Frequently Asked Questions
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