Difference Between Pterodactyl and Pteranodon

The two genera of Pterosaur are Pterodactyl and Pteranodon. Pterosaurs are also known as “flying dinosaurs”. Pterodactyl is an extinct genus of Pterosaurs that includes winged reptiles with teeth. They are comparatively smaller. They have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany while Pteranodon is one of the largest flying reptiles of Pterosaurs which includes winged reptiles without teeth. The feature of Pteranodon is their cranial crest which consists of skull bones. They have been discovered in Kansas, America.

What is Pterodactyl ?

Pterodactyl is an extinct genus of Pterosaur which includes winged reptiles with teeth. They have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany. They were the first Pterosaurs that were identified as flying reptiles. They were carnivores and they fed on vertebrates and invertebrates. They consist of a skull of mainly soft tissues. The growth pattern of Pterodactyls is similar to modern crocodiles rather than birds. They walk on four legs when they are on land. They are known as carnivores due to the shape and size and arrangement of teeth that they possess.

What is Pteranodon?

Pteranodon is known as flying reptiles of the genus of Pterosaurs which include winged reptiles without teeth. Pteranodon is divided into two different size classes-  smaller size class and larger size class. The smaller size class consists of small, rounded head crests and wide pelvic canals while the larger size class consists of large crests and narrow hips. Adult females are represented in the smaller size class on the other hand larger size class represents the males. They have been discovered in Kansas, America. The main feature of Pteranodon is their cranial crest which consists of skull bones.

Similarities Between Pterodactyl and Pteranodon

• They both are the two genera of Pterosaur are Pterodactyl and Pteranodon. 
• They both lived in the Mesozoic era.
• They both are winged reptiles.
• Both of them doesn’t have feathers.
• They both consist of a skull crest.

Difference between Pterodactyl and Pteranodon

The difference between petrodactyl and petranodon are given below:

Characteristics	Pterodactyl	Pteranodon
Definition	Pterodactyl is an extinct genus of Pterosaur which include winged reptiles with teeth.	Pteranodon is the genus of Pterosaurs which include winged reptiles without teeth.
Body length	They are smaller in length.	They are larger in length.
Discovery	They have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany.	They have been discovered in Kansas, America.
Skull Crest	The skull crest of Pterodactyls is made up of soft tissues.	The skull crest of Pteranodons is made up of skull bones.
Length of Males and Female	In Pterodactyls, males and females have the same length.	In Pteranodons, males are bigger than females.
Diet	The type of Carnivores who fed on small animals.	The type of Carnivores who fed on crabs, fish, mollusks, and so on.

Conclusion

Therefore, the two genera of Pterosaur are Pterodactyl and Pteranodon. Pterosaurs are also known as “flying dinosaurs”. Pterodactyl is an extinct genus of Pterosaurs that includes winged reptiles with teeth. They are comparatively smaller. They have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany while Pteranodon is some of the largest flying reptiles of Pterosaurs which includes winged reptiles without teeth. They have been discovered in Kansas, America.

FAQs on Pterodactyl and Pteranodon

Define  Pterodactyl?

Pterodactyl is an extinct genus of Pterosaur which include winged reptiles with teeth. They were carnivores and they fed on vertebrates and invertebrates. They consists of skull of mainly soft tissues. They have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany.

What is the growth pattern of Pterodactyl?

The growth pattern of Pterodactyl is similar to modern crocodiles rather than birds. They walk on four legs when they are on land. They are known as carnivores due to the shape and size and arrangements of teeth.

Define Pteranodon?

Pteranodon are the flying reptiles of the genus of Pterosaurs which include winged reptiles without teeth. The skull crest of Pterodactyl is made up of skull bones. The type of Carnivores who fed on crabs, fish, mollusks and so on. They have been discovered in Kansas, America.

Write about the types of size classes in Pteranodon.

Pteranodon are divided into two different size class –  smaller size class and larger size class. The smaller size class consists of small, rounded head crests and wide pelvic canals while larger size class consists of large crests and narrow hips.