Pteranodon occidentalis YPM 1179 and AMNH 4908

Pteranodon occidentalis YPM 1179 (Marsh 1876a) was derived from a sister to Eopteranodon and phylogenetically preceded another specimen of Pteranodon, FHSM VP 2183, formerly SMM 11402 (Miller 1971b).

Overall larger than and distinct from Eopteranodon, the skull of Pteranodon occidentalis was straighter with a shorter crest. The orbit was anteroposteriorly shorter with a smaller sclerotic ring. The mandible was deeper.

The skull is also comparable to that of the SMNK-PAL 6592 specimen attributed to Germanodactylus but toothless. The postorbital process of the jugal and the upper temporal arch were more robust.

The family tree of the Ornithocephalia and Germanodactylia is here. The expanded family tree of the Pterosauria is here.

AMNH 4908 is a small headless skeleton also nesting at the base of the Pteranodon clade. Note the round and flat deltopectoral crest, the separation fo the pubis and ischium and the very long metatarsal 4.

Click to enlarge the family tree of Nyctosaurus and Pteranodon represented by skulls to scale. Note there is no indication of gender or age in this tree, other than in the juvenile Pteranodon ingens known as Ptweety (represented by more than a skull here). Skulls are identified here.

Marsh OC 1876a. Notice of a new sub-order of Pterosauria. American Journal of Science, Series 3, 11:507-509.

Miller HW 1971. A skull of Pteranodon (Longicepia) longiceps Marsh associated with wing and body parts. Kansas Academy of Science, Transactions 74(10):20-33.

Bennett SC 1991. Morphology of the Late Cretaceous Pterosaur Pteranodon and Systematics of the Pterodactyloidea. [Volumes I & II]. Ph.D. thesis, University of Kansas, University Microfilms International/ProQuest.

Bennett SC 1992. Sexual dimorphism of Pteranodon and other pterosaurs, with comments on cranial crests. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 12: 422–434.

Bennett SC 1994. Taxonomy and systematics of the Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea). Occassional Papers of the Natural History Museum University of Kansas 169: 1–70.

Bennett SC 2001. The osteology and functional morphology of the Late Cretaceous pterosaur Pteranodon. Part I. General description of osteology. Palaeontographica, Abteilung A, 260: 1–112. Part II. Functional morphology. Palaeontographica, Abteilung A, 260: 113–153

wiki/Pteranodon

Pteranodontia

Nyctosaurus

Muzquizopteryx

Nyctosaurus FHSM VP 21

Nyctosaurus FMNH 25026

Nyctosaurus UNSM 93000

Nyctosaurus KJ

Pteranodon

Pteranodon occidentalis
YPM 1179

Pteranodon FHSM VP 2183

Pteranodon UUPI R197