Everything we know about Pteranodon (not pterodactyls)

The Pteranodon is one of the most instantly recognizable prehistoric creatures in existence the pteranodon. However, although famous, these creatures weren't monsters and they actually lead a fairly humble existence that would have been similar to a modern day sea bird.
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If I have used artwork that belongs to you but have neglected to credit it this will just be because I was unable to find one. If this has happened please contact me and I will add a credit. Some Art work has been altered for the purposes of bettering them for video format; these alterations were done independent from the artists who created the original work, so they are not responsible for any inaccuracies that could have occurred with the changes being made.
Sources:
core.ac.uk/download/pdf/18550...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...
www.researchgate.net/publicat...

[@aleratz]

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Pteranodon* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)

[@Spoonishpls]

You know what they say about boys with big wingspans...

[@zeltzamer4010]

You don’t often see a Doctor Rueben reference in the comment section.

[@bigaaron]

​@@zeltzamer4010it's every other doctor too

[@DysfunctionallyControlled]

Don't smear that pop noise on the great Moth Light Media (kidding, by the way, in case it's not clear)

[@jb-vb8un]

big shoes, big gloves ? ?

[@MikeS29]

One of the most irritating things about popular depictions of long-extinct animals is their portrayal as "monsters," constantly killing and slashing everything in their path. Thank you for pointing out that these well-evolved and adapted animals filled niches that would be familiar to any of us that are paying the slightest bit of attention.

[@BiTurbo228]

It's not just extinct animals. The sheer number of films, books, paintings and all sorts of media that depict wolves as vicious murderous things with the sole goal of eating people, rather than as social animals that are primarily utterly terrified of people and mostly avoid them at all costs.

[@faolitaruna]

7:32 This is the most realistic visualisation of prehistoric life I've ever seen.

[@_Wombat]

I hope this man keeps making these videos forever. Even if he is a complete enigma.

[@thamasaurus]

these videos, although short, are amazing. the graphics are spectacular, the consistency, everything!

[@whatdisd]

You just have to love people like this they are fascinating. I work with a guy personally and you could let him talk your ear off about paleontology

[@jb-vb8un]

grahics remind me of Stan Lee / Jack Kirby's work aka SANDMAN & MISTER MIRACLE

[@justinwilliam6534]

Cool you should do a video on what science knows about Archaeopteryx because it was considered the first bird for a long time before recent discoveries proved otherwise.

[@ZeFroz3n0ne907]

Totally agree! Everyone, whoever else agrees like this comment so Moth will see it and make it happen!! ❤

[@johnmarkson1998]

@@ZeFroz3n0ne907 dont tell me what to do.

[@sagaramskp]

What's the recent discovery

[@junodonatus4906]

I don't think it was considered the "first" bird because at the time it was found evolution was being postulated and popularized, therefore there's never a first of any species. Any creature is just a point on a continuum.

[@michaelszczys8316]

Back in 1963 as a child I had a sticker book with stickers of all kinds of animals. Sometimes today I hear of a totally weird animal ( such as an Aye-aye ) and remember it from that book. The book also had sticker of Archeopteryx among the animals.

[@Dinamosaur]

Flocks of gannets diving to catch fish are already a breath-taking sight. Imagining that scaled up three to four times is something else.

[@MarktheRude]

These videos are the apex of comfyness. Absolutely greater than the sum of it's parts. The one downside ofcourse being that these videos feel so short.

[@LimeyLassen]

7:45 I love this image of pterosaurs and birds coexisting

[@mastequila90prof]

Your videos are seriously my number one most watched videos on KZbin. The only criticism I have is you don’t make enough videos! I want a video once a week! But it’s ok :) I’ll still watch either way and Thank you

[@gattycroc8073]

I prefer quality over quantity.

[@ZeFroz3n0ne907]

Ditto!

[@mastequila90prof]

True. If quality did drop then yes. I totally agree

[@ilikechineseteaespeciallyj7262]

Lived just like seagulls... Except perhaps without the stereotypical ice-cream stealing shenanigans

[@erikm8372]

Great video! Also, it might’ve seemed weird to Othniel Charles Marsh to find seabird-like pterosaur fossils in Kansas, despite the ancient seaway, but if you think about it-pelicans have been found all the way up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to their very starting points. They also seasonally fly inland to the Yukon, the Great Slave & Bear Lakes, and the US Great Lakes also see many seabirds. Also, in Australia’s Red Centre after the rains come and leave seasonal lakes in the desert, a multitude of various sea- & shorebirds fly inland to feed and find mates.

[@robertperschau5910]

Interesting! I live in Colorado and sometimes see pelicans all the way up in the mountains near reservoirs and lakes

[@prasetyodwikuncorojati2434]

@@robertperschau5910 and don't forget if sometimes seagulls can found several miles inland, following human rubbish

[@prasetyodwikuncorojati2434]

And maybe it can explain too about hesperornis fossil,an ancient greebe like seabird in Judith river site, which supposedly is freshwater swamp or river during Cretaceous

[@nc1651]

Extremely interested in the evolutionary history of metamorphosis, how did such a crazy thing develop and be useful for individuals at every stage of its evolution. Always baffled me and id love a Moth Light Media video on it.

[@tylerknowsanimals]

A beautiful video about a pterrific pterosaur! I always look forward to your content so thank you for uploading!

[@ryeofthebeholder]

That pun was pterrible.

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

Informative and pleasant to watch, as always. Thank you!

[@Turdfergusen382]

These amazing creatures are often depicted as somewhat solitary. I like to imagine flocks of pterodactyliods or pterodons. Or flying in massive formations. Could these behemoths circumnavigate? Would love if anyone could let me know more.

[@askillobator]

Watch prehistoric planet season 1 there is tons of pterosaur content that includes a diverse selection of pterosaur species doing all sorts of things is highly recommend it

[@Turdfergusen382]

@@askillobator thanks for the recommendation

[@littlesaresare]

A murmuration of pterosaurs!

[@christopherjohnson2171]

Modern large birds can cast a hell of a shadow when the sign is high. Imagine a flock animals this size passing overhead.

[@lavenderflowersfall280]

Thank you for tastefully keeping the advertising to a minimum. Especially in this day and age. Moth Light: 😐👍 Me: 😊

[@khango6138]

Been missing Moth Light Media, so glad to see a new video!

[@13pitbulllover]

How we saw pteranodon in the past: giant monsterous with beak and talons How we see pteranodon now: *Sea Bird*

[@sassa82]

Great as always!

[@lalehiandeity1649]

Still hoping you do a video on the evolution of intelligent animals like cetaceans and corvids.

[@seanledden4397]

Thanks for the wonderful profile of a personal prehistoric favorite. - I love the reconstructions with seagull-like coloration.

[@martakeczek6476]

Absolutely love the introduction. Even though I saw this pterosaur countless times in books, movies or as a toy, it's always nice to re-learn or refresh the knowledge about it. Thank you so much ^^

[@nickzaytz5712]

Love it! Can't wait for another video💚 my favorite channel)

[@EmilyHoot]

sorry babe i can't come over tonight, moth light media just posted a pteranodon video

[@Mortthemoose]

😅😅👍

[@glasslakes]

Great video as always. Thank you.

[@mbvoelker8448]

Your videos are always a top priority in my watchlist.

[@iflops]

Hell yea!!! Thank you for this informative video my dude!!!

[@kaladenn6868]

I’m honestly surprised this video didn’t blow up. I’m sure it will soon. Great work as always man

[@ZeFroz3n0ne907]

Great video Moth Light Media! Love your videos! Always informative and I always learn something new! Keep up the great work my friend! (Been a sub for a few years now and glad I did!) ❤ - From Dave R. in Alaska

[@SwissTanuki]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing 👍

[@LOTLore]

Love your channel m8 keep it up

[@captcardor]

Great work!

[@lobachevscki]

I love this channel pretty much and I recently binge a lot of the early videos and realized the audio on those videos is higher volume. I dont know what happened but those early videos are easier for me to listen to as I dont need headphones for them as I do for the newer ones. Never noticed that change until now. Just so you know, maybe finding a middle would be great.

[@SAAN1CC]

It’s criminal how underrated this channel is.

[@dnapolren]

Thanks for the video

[@DeinoWolfhybridhero]

Pteranodons are morfologically the most kaiju-esque creatures ever lived

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

morph-

[@DeinoWolfhybridhero]

@@Dr.Ian-Plect you are right but English is not my first language

[@Dr.Ian-Plect]

@@DeinoWolfhybridhero ok

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

​@@DeinoWolfhybridheroI'm sure they were just trying to help you. English has some really, really weird spelling rules, and any help to be offered can be a huge help. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@nickallan9403]

I love this channel

[@sciencenerd7639]

great video

[@eliscanfield3913]

Now I have the Dinosaur Train theme running through my head. Its protagonists are a family comprised of 5 pteranodons & 1 t-rex (who's adopted.)

[@darthcheney7447]

They are fascinating animals and were quite successful all the way up to the KPg event.

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

IIRC, they were declining through the later Cretaceous, probably from competition from more advanced birds. But they had a really long run, compared to a lot of other Mesozoic groups.

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

@masterbaiter8961 I was thinking of pterosaurs in general, but I'm no expert. What you say about pteranodontids makes sense.

[@DJFracus]

@@b.a.erlebacher1139 The smaller rhamphoryncoids mentioned in the video were already in decline in the early Cretaceous and disappeared around the middle of it (see the graph at 4:41), probably due to being out-competed by birds. That's probably what you're thinking of. The larger pterodactyloids were still alive and well before the Cretaceous mass extinction though, and they were likely too large for birds to really count as competition, since birds cannot reach those sizes.

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

@@DJFracus Thanks for the info!

[@WalpurgisDawn]

Your videos keep me occupied for hours pausing and digging into rabbit holes on google

[@bustavonnutz]

Given the title, I'm glad you stuck to the facts & didn't dive headfirst into speculation. As I've covered myself, we don't know the origins of any Archosaur lineage; Pterosaurs, Crocodilians, & Dinosaurs still have completely enigmatic origins, so I'm always eager to hear when novel finds are made. We're fortunate to have found this many Pteranodon over the years, as most other genera of Pterosaur have mid af preservation.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

I've always been interested in the Western Interior Seaway, since I've spent my whole life in and along the coastline of that sea. 😊 Critters from that era and in this area fascinate me, so make as many ofnthem as you'd like! Now to keep catching up, since I'm behind!

[@leminjapan]

I love the title!

[@kayc_x3]

Pterosaurs are my favorite of the ancient animals. They’re just so incredible and unique. I’d love to get to see what they actually were like. How did they sound? Did they move in groups? How smart were they?

[@whitewolf3051]

Ever wanted to ride a pteranodon *if* one was strong enough to carry a full grown person on its back? Apparently, people wanted to since the late 1800s/19th century, evidenced by a book from that era to Dinotopia by James Gurney, and many in between. Too bad that they didn’t have any one ride a pteranodon in the Jurassic movies. The closest we get is a French movie, Adele Blanc Sec.

[@teddnaing6851]

Miss you much brother!

[@hherpdderp]

Imagine those hanging out at the beach stealing your chips.

[@Sirdilophosaurusthethird2.0]

I like da pteranodon

[@ManicMercurianAstrology]

thank you

[@paulcateiii]

thank you

[@Hashishin13]

Nice ending.

[@theoccidilian4896]

Could the crest provide a counter balance for snagging fish while flying?

[@RP-mm9ie]

Thanks

[@dogofthedesert6642]

I have often watched cormorants eating fish. If you can swallow your meal whole, who needs teeth?

[@DJFracus]

Reptiles generally swallow their food without chewing, but most of them still have teeth. Chewing is mostly a mammal trait.

[@christianhunt7382]

I like the idea of pteranodon being a diving, and near aquatic animal. i dont know if science could suggest a semi aquatic life style, other than being munched by a shark, but i like the idea of him being adept at flight as well as swimming/diving

[@FeRNaNDaYZ]

Hey moth light media. I’ve been thinking about the significance of eye contact within the animal kingdom lately. Might be an interesting video idea since there isn’t anything I have found about it!

[@phileon2323]

Turtles the size of rhinos? We need to know about that.

[@johnshields6852]

That beak it quite a weapon, even today birds, herons, egrets, just watch them closely kill a rat, they spear and squeeze with amazing speed and deadly accuracy.

[@piyali.6172]

Your narration reminds me of 2000s discovery channel now

[@MrTapierwithmustache]

Would it have been possible to use a breaching technique in order to lift off?

[@freeworld1839]

Hoping for a video on the evolution of migration

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

When I was a kid, we were taught that all of the pterosaurs could only glide, not actually fly. Even as a kid, that never sat well with me. They would have had to live in an environment with a perfect trail up to a huge cliff. I can't believe anyone ever thought this could be the case.

[@girishg414]

If they plunge dived, how would they have been able to take off after breaching the waters surface? Considering that the water cannot support their wrist walking posture?

[@jabbarmuhammad8804]

Pteranodon a very interesting pterosaur

[@charleswingfield380]

please do a video on the evolution on tigers

[@ButterBallTheOpossum]

Could you do a video on the evolutionary history of Oppossum and Naked Mole Rat?

[@beback_]

This was my favorite animal as a kid.

[@MH-ms1dg]

❤ 0:06 what was the word after frothing?

[@TanupatYT]

Fine... 10 more minutes before going to sleep👌🗿

[@dweebteambuilderjones7627]

4:37 Typo, that should be "Rhamphorhynchoids".

[@miguelisaurusbruh1158]

4:44 whistle lol

[@vernonfridy8416]

I’m pretty sure that “pterodactyl” can refer to any member of the Pterodactyloidea. As such, Pteranodon can correctly be called a “pterodactyl”, but is still not the same as Pterodactylus.

[@joshuaberley4104]

Les goooo

[@maozilla9149]

could you make a video of prehistoric frilled shark dykeius garethi Proteothrinax Rolfodon goliath someday?

[@Strawberry92fs]

"this wasn't a bird, but a flying reptile" ah yes, flying reptiles, a group that still contains birds.

[@takenname8053]

Always wondered why the names got mixed up

[@chaosopher23]

I'll toss my idea in. They dove like a kingfisher, possibly swam quite well, and may have spent a bit of time in the water rather on land. They kinda have the bottom half of a penguin, despite the wings of a common vampire bat. Those wings could have provided a large amount of thrust in the water.

[@Joe-lb8qn]

If they push off with all limbs to get airborne (which seems likely) how could they take offf from water?

[@Meraxes6]

They were thought to be quite comfortable on land, able to actually run and maybe hunt.

[@millehugo2879]

How did they lift from the water?

[@KenFullman]

From the first time I heard of these creatures I wondered how they caught fish and then took off again. I still can't imagine them managing to capture enough prey by simply skimming over the water, unless, there were a lot more fish in the sea than there is today. But I also don't think they'd have been able to take off from the water, so diving doesn't seem very likely (IMHO). Something about their environment must have been much different than I imagine.

[@grokeffer6226]

👍👍👍

[@Brinta3]

7:41 The right foot of that upper “penguin” looks like it was drawn by a Pixar artist.

[@daywalker3735]

I wonder if they were somewhat of a large grazing animal. Just flying over the water with their mouth dipped in, passively scooping up fish. Would also make sense why sharks or other water predators could eat them.

[@nelsonianb1289]

Wheres that cliff in the thumbnail?

[@duncangriffiths4399]

I will never say "talons" the same way again.

[@WAMTAT]

Just imagine what the world would be like if they'd survived to the modern age ...

[@parsegov1]

if they dove into the water, how would they have flown back out given their large size?

[@andrewsuryali8540]

Diving birds return to the air by suddenly expanding their wings underwater, causing a buoyancy shock to travel downwards and "bounce" them out of the water with some force. Presumably the same mechanic might also work for pterosaurs.

[@2RANbit]

As you said in the introduction of this video, the name of an individual of this Order is a Pterosaur, not a Pterodactyl.

[@tylerball665]

Most therapeutic shit on youtube, that buttery narration 🤤

[@user-md9yv7jx2c]

That aquatic one sounds like a Pteranodon Penguin?

[@JesBdoinItAgain]

i always wonder if any paleontologist ever found a fossil of a certain prehistoric animal, and would just say "nah, you're not old enough"

[@Luckyhotsummer]

Not feeling clear about the question of taking off from the water Also arent there birds that specialize in taking fish from other birds in flight or is that more a behavior than their main menu

[@HassanMohamed-jy4kk]

Why don’t you think about making a suggestion and creating a KZbin Videos that’s all about the Evolution Of The Pliosaurs in the next month on the next Moth Light Media?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍

[@pac1fic055]

Sharks - terrorizing the seas for over 400M years.

[@Sk8thud]

I wonder if there are any dinosaurs that were genuinely just movie monsters

[@dweebteambuilderjones7627]

Billionaires.

[@prixe12]

​@@dweebteambuilderjones7627 Good one

[@BytebroUK]

Hiya! I think you just did a bit where you implied that these probably could not take off from the water, followed by another bit that suggested they went dive-fishing kinda like cormorants. So which of these mutually exclusive positions is more likely? :)

[@EmilyHoot]

i think they included both possibilities because we don't know for sure!

[@neosapienz7885]

I would say they fished like modern day skimmers. The shape of their beaks clearly were for skimming and not diving, and the head crests clearly were designed for balance and leverage. Just an educated guess. We’ll see what we learn. Been surprised many times before.

[@MrT_Rex]

Pteranodon = no tooth wings Pteranodon in JP3 : have teeth Paleontology : bruh

[@krankarvolund7771]

"In the cretaceous, the shape of the continents was the same, but hotter temperatures led to higher sea levels" Let's hop global warming don't go that far, that would be a pretty big problem if we get back to these sea levels. I don't want Europe to be a tropical archipelago XD

[@EMNstar]

I wonder if they dive bombed fish like hawks do small animals