Find facts and information and plush toy Pteranodon and Pterodactyl stuffed animals at Animals n More.
These plush toy pteranodons are from Animal Planet. The big blue pteranodon is from Wild Republic. Our sponsor, Jeannie's Cottage LLC gift shop has these plush toy pteranodons and pterodactyls for sale.
The Pteranodon was a descendant of the Pterodactyl. It was a flying reptile. Its name, Pteranodon, means wing without tooth. It lived during the Cretaceous period in North America.
Although toothless, it is believed the Pteranodon was a carnivore and ate such prey as fish, crabs, mollusks and insects. It may have hunted animals by gliding over the surface of the ocean and snatching prey like a modern-day pelican.
Though no one knows for sure, it is believed the Pteranodon was capable of flying long distances, possibly depending on air currents like the present-day Condor. Its wings, though huge, were light weight; it probably had a semi-upright stance. Its wingspan was 23 feet, longer than any known bird.
Unlike a bird it did not have feathers, but a leathery membrane that covered its body, legs and its elongated fourth fingers. The other fingers were equipped with protruded claws. Some Pteranodons had a large, long crest at the back of the head. Its use is unknown but may have been a type of rudder used when flying. Or like some birds, it may have had a seasonal breeding characteristic.
The first fossil of Pteranodon was found in Kansas in 1876. Other fossils have since been found in the USA (Kansas) and in England.
