Pteranodon longiceps

Complete pterosaur fossils are relatively rare and usually quite fragile due to the thin-walled, hollow construction of most of the bones. More commonly found are isolated bones that have been crushed and flattened. Stabilizing these fossils with conservation-grade consolidants (acetone or water-soluble glues and polymers with known chemistry) and reconstructing them to their original dimensions is painstaking work, and should be attempted only by someone trained as a fossil preparator or working under a preparator's supervision.

Pterosaur fossils are found all over the world, but those of Pteranodon are found only in North America. Most Pteranodon fossils are found in the upper Smoky Hill Chalk Member of the Niobrara Chalk in the badlands of western Kansas. These fossil-rich badlands are privately owned in many cases, and scientists require the landowner's permission to collect fossils. Collecting on public lands requires a permit, although a permit may not impress the rattlesnakes.

This cast of our almost complete but undescribed pterosaur fossil will be used by educators at Nature. The original fossil skeleton and its skull were found in the Smoky Hill Chalk region of western Kansas. This pterosaur's wingspan was about 3.6 m. Catalogue: CMN414358.

Where in the World?

In the Museum