Pteranodon, a fascinating prehistoric creature, was a large flying reptile that soared through ancient skies. While often mistakenly grouped with dinosaurs, Pteranodon was a pterosaur, a distinct order of winged reptiles. This article explores the specific geological timeframe when Pteranodon lived, and the environment it inhabited.
The Mesozoic Era
Pteranodon existed during the Mesozoic Era, a geological time often called the “Age of Reptiles” or “Age of Dinosaurs.” This era began approximately 252 million years ago and concluded around 66 million years ago. The Mesozoic Era is divided into three major periods.
The earliest period was the Triassic, spanning from about 251.9 to 201.4 million years ago. The Jurassic Period followed, lasting from roughly 201.4 to 145 million years ago. The final and longest period was the Cretaceous, extending from about 145 to 66 million years ago.
Pteranodon’s Cretaceous Period Home
Pteranodon specifically lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. This epoch of Earth’s history spanned from approximately 100.5 million years ago to 66 million years ago. Fossil evidence indicates Pteranodon’s peak existence fell within this timeframe.
The majority of Pteranodon fossils have been discovered in what is now North America, concentrated in present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alabama. During the Late Cretaceous, much of this region was covered by the Western Interior Seaway, a large shallow sea. This indicates Pteranodon likely inhabited coastal areas and open marine environments.
Life Alongside Pteranodon and Its End
During the Late Cretaceous, Pteranodon shared its world with diverse life forms. It coexisted with dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops. The skies were also home to other pterosaurs, while the seas teemed with marine reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, and sharks. Pteranodon primarily fed on fish, utilizing its toothless beak to catch prey over water.
Pteranodon, along with many other large reptiles and species, faced extinction at the close of the Cretaceous Period. This event, known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction, occurred approximately 66 million years ago. The K-Pg extinction is attributed to the impact of a large asteroid in what is now the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, an event that caused widespread environmental devastation and led to the demise of roughly 75% of all species on Earth.