Pteranodon fossil map
Where fossils of Pteranodon have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 85 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 85 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Pterosaurs |
|---|---|
| Lived | 89.8–72.2 million years ago (Coniacian to Campanian) |
| Periods | Cretaceous |
| Named by | Marsh 1876 |
| Fossil records | 43 occurrences at 27 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States |
| Rock formations | Niobrara, Pierre Shale, Merchantville, Sharon Springs, txn:NF |
About Pteranodon
Pteranodon (; from Ancient Greek pteron 'wing', an- 'without', and odon 'tooth') is a genus of pterosaur that included some of the largest known flying reptiles, with P. longiceps having a wingspan of over 6 m (20 ft). They lived during the late Cretaceous geological period of North America in present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota and Alabama. More fossil specimens of Pteranodon have been found than any other pterosaur, with about 1,200 specimens known to science, many of them well preserved with nearly complete skulls and articulated skeletons. It was an important part of the animal community in the Western Interior Seaway.
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Pteranodon (revision 1381210622), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 22 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q245060.
