Pteranodon
/ˌtɛr.əˈnɑː.dən/noun
A genus of large, toothless flying reptiles from the Late Cretaceous.
Did you know?Pteranodon was coined in 1876 from Greek roots, but the famous silent p in the spelling is part of a long scientific tradition of preserving classical-looking forms even when they’re not pronounced.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
pteron
“wing or feather”
Ancient Greek
Greek
an- + odous/odont-
“without teeth; tooth”
1876
English
Pteranodon
“scientific genus name for a large toothless flying reptile”
Modern English
English
pteranodon
“a pterosaur genus name used in paleontology and popular speech”
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