Home > Diorama > Dinosaur Explorer > Pteranodon The Pteranodon (which literally means "flying reptile") was a large winged reptilian creature that was closely related to the dinosaurs which lived during the late Cretaceous Period around 65 million years ago. Discovered during the 1860s in Kansas, Pteranodons were fish-eaters which soared over the shallow Cretaceous seas and coastlines, and dove out of the sky and into the water for their food (much like pelicans do today). It had a wingspan of approximately 22 feet in length, a long toothless beak, and sported a large vertical crest on top of its head. Its hollow bone structure significantly reduced its weight, making the largest known Pteranodons weighing in at no more than 20 - 25 pounds. Six Pteranodons can be found in the diorama at Universe of Energy and are perched in various locations in and around the "tidal pool" and "volcano" scenes on either side of the vehicles.