Pteranodon (P. longiceps 'Toothless Wing') is a genus of prehistoric flying reptile that lived during the Santonian and Campanian of the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 86 to 84 million years ago. It was a pterosaur, a group of flying reptiles that shared the age of the dinosaurs, although they were not dinosaurs themselves.
Pteranodon was characterized by its impressive wingspan and its body structure adapted for flight. Pteranodon fossils show that it had a wingspan of up to 7 meters, making it one of the largest known pterosaurs. However, his body was relatively light, with thin, hollow bones, allowing him to fly efficiently. The neck was long and slender, and the elongated skull featured a large bony crest at the rear, often depicted in illustrations as a sail.
The most distinctive feature of Pteranodon was its wings. They were extremely long and narrow, with a taut skin membrane that stretched from the arm and finger bones to the wing bones. The first three fingers of the Pteranodon hand were long and slender, and are believed to have been attached by a membrane of skin that formed a kind of digital wing. The fourth finger, on the other hand, was short and thickened, and had a hooked claw at the end, which is believed to have been used to catch prey while flying or to cling to surfaces.
The Pteranodon skull was quite peculiar. It had a triangular shape and was extremely elongated, with a length that could reach up to 1 meter in some species. The beak was thin and pointed, adapted for catching fish and other aquatic animals. The bony crest at the rear of the skull was high and extended backwards, and was often depicted as a sail shape in illustrations, although its exact function is unclear and has been the subject of debate among scientists.
Pteranodon is believed to have been an animal specialized in hunting fish. Its hollow bones and light body structure allowed it to fly for long periods of time and cover great distances in search of food. It is believed to have fed by flying low over the water and using its long beak and hooked claw to catch fish and other marine animals. It has also been speculated that Pteranodon could have used its crest sail to aid its flight, although this has not been confirmed. In terms of their geographic distribution, Pteranodon fossils have been found primarily in North America, in what is now the United States, in places like Kansas, Alabama, and Wyoming.
The Model Pose represents a perched Pteranodon specimen.
Approximate measurements of the Pteranodon:
- Scale 1:35 - 82x 45 x 66 mm H
