What is the Difference Between Pterodactyl and Pteranodon?

Pterodactyl and Pteranodon are two genera of Pterosaurs, which are extinct flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era. They have some similarities, but there are key differences between them:

1. Teeth: Pterodactyls have teeth, while Pteranodons do not. Pterodactyls have narrow beaks and skulls with nearly 90 teeth.
2. Size: Pterodactyls are smaller in length compared to Pteranodons. Pterodactyl usantiquus, for example, had an estimated adult wingspan of 1.04 meters.
3. Crest: Pterodactyls have a low bony crest on top of their long, slender heads, made of soft tissue. In contrast, Pteranodons have a cranial crest consisting of skull bones. The crest of Pterodactylus projected backward, while the crest of Pteranodon projected upward.
4. Tail: Pterodactyls have a longer tail compared to Pteranodons, which have a very short tail.
5. Diet: Both Pterodactyls and Pteranodons are carnivorous, but their diets differ due to the presence of teeth in Pterodactyls and the absence of teeth in Pteranodons. Pterodactyls likely fed on vertebrates and invertebrates.
6. Habitat: Pterodactyls lived during the late Jurassic period of the Mesozoic era, while Pteranodons lived during the late Cretaceous period of the Mesozoic era. Fossil remains of Pterodactyls have been discovered in Bavaria, Germany.

Comparative Table: Pterodactyl vs Pteranodon

Here is a table summarizing the differences between Pterodactyl and Pteranodon:

Both Pterodactyl and Pteranodon are genera of Pterosaurs, flying reptiles that lived during the Mesozoic era. They have some similarities, such as being winged reptiles and not having feathers, but they also have several key differences, including their size, teeth, beak shape, crest, and tail length.