プテラノドン Pteranodon　オーストラリア恐竜大陸

Pteranodon

 

和名：プテラノドン
世界共通発音：テラノドン ter?ran?oh?don
命名意味：Toothless Flyer

分類所属：
Pterosauria / Pterodactyloidea
/ First Described: 1876 / Found: North America: USA. Asia: Japan / Wingspan: 9 m
/ Weight:  25 kg / Food: Fish / Young: Eggs
/ Lived: Late Cretaceous 82?71 million years ago

恐竜説明：
Hordes of Pteranodon flew over the chalk seas of western America during the late Cretaceous. They probably nested on cliffs and cliff? tops well above the water's edge. Pteranodon was an odd creature, with its big head crowned by a very large, upright crest. It had long, slightly upturned jaws and no teeth. The crest stabilized the head during flight, and the long laws were ideal for catching any fish that swam too close to the sea's surface.   
Pteranodon had a very small body and its bones were extremely light.  They were, in fact, hollow and had very thin walls. It is likely that they were connected to the lungs by a series of air sacs. Those modern seabirds that soar over the oceans on currents of warm air function in the same way.
Pteranodon had small eyes located on the side of the head, towards the  back and just below the front of the crest. The Toothless Flyer' could not have walked very far on the ground and it is probable that adults simply  launched themselves from the cliff  edge to go in search of food.
Landing must always have been a nightmare, especially in high winds.
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