Pteranodon
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Pteranodon is an extinct genus of large pterosaur that lived during the Late Cretaceous Period. It is one of the most famous and well-known prehistoric reptiles from the time of the dinosaurs. This genus of pterosaur has been featured in numerous science fiction and giant monster films, and is the basis for the popular Toho kaiju Rodan.
History
- The Lost World (1925)
- King Kong (1933)
- Rodan (1956) [drawing]
- The King Kong Show (TV 1966-1969)
- The Last Dinosaur (1977)
- Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II (1993) [fossilized remains]
- The Mighty Kong (1998)
- Rebirth of Mothra 3 (1998)
- Kong: The Animated Series (TV 2000-2001)
- Kong: Return to the Jungle (2006)
- Kong: King of the Apes (TV 2016-2018)
- Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) [skeleton]
The Lost World
A Pteranodon was the first prehistoric creature spotted by the researchers, eating a Toxodon. Another was later seen getting grabbed and killed by a Tyrannosaurus rex after flying too close to it.
King Kong (1933)
After defeating the Elasmosaurus, King Kong followed Ann Darrow onto the cliff outside his lair, where she was attacked by a Pteranodon, which tried to carry her away. Kong attacked the pterosaur, freeing Ann. Jack Driscoll reached the cliff and rescued Ann while Kong battled the Pteranodon. After killing the Pteranodon, Kong tried to pull Ann and Jack back up by the vine they were climbing down, only for them to jump into the river below and escape unharmed.
The King Kong Show
A Pteranodon appeared in the pilot episode, swooping in to catch an armadillo.
Showa era
The Last Dinosaur
A flock of large Pteranodons were some of the creatures discovered during the Polar-Borer expedition. They were among the first surviving animals to be observed by the crew. One Pteranodon gave them a scare during the expedition's first night, flying low near their fire.
Heisei era
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
A scientific team led by Hiroshi Omae was called to the irradiated Adonoa Island in the Bering Sea after a group of Russian petroleum surveyors discovered a Pteranodon skeleton along with a nest containing what appeared to be an intact Pteranodon egg and one that had hatched. When the scientists attempted to bring the intact egg back to Japan, the creature that hatched from the other egg, the irradiated and gigantic Pteranodon known as Rodan, attacked them. When Godzilla came ashore on the island and battled Rodan, the scientists were able to escape with the egg, which turned out to hold a baby Godzillasaurus instead of a Pteranodon.
Rebirth of Mothra 3
Shortly after Rainbow Mothra traveled back to the Cretaceous Period, a Pteranodon flew past him.
The Mighty Kong
A Pteranodon flew past Jack Driscoll as he first stepped into Skull Island's interior. Two more attacked Kong after he brought Ann Darrow to his volcanic lair. One dove at Ann, but Kong grabbed it and threw it aside. A third joined them as a cave snake descended from the ceiling and constricted Kong. The gorilla eventually prevailed, but the intensity of the battle caused a minor eruption. Jack helped Ann escape while Kong was distracted.
Abilities
Flight
The Pteranodon is specialized for flight.
Physical abilities
Pteranodons possess a beak and talons for hunting prey.
Books
- Kong Reborn (2005)
Kong Reborn
In the year 2009, a species of gigantic Pteranodon with a 70-foot wingspan[2] lived on Skull Island and checked out a group of humans on the beach, but took no interest and flew back into the jungle. They subsisted on giant fish that lived in the island's waters. They were not true Pteranodons, but were identified as such by Ann Darrow after she escaped from the island while being shown photographs of prehistoric creatures.
Gallery
King Kong (1933)
King Kong battles a Pteranodon to save Ann Darrow
The Pteranodon model from the film as of 1983, 50 years later
A close-up of the model's head
Rodan
A portrait of a Pteranodon is compared to a photograph of Rodan's wing
Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II
The Pteranodon fossils discovered by Hiroshi Omae in the film
Merchandise
Konami SF King Kong collection
Trendmasters Mecha King Ghidorah vs. Dinosaurs figure set
Trivia
- The Showa, Heisei, and Final Wars incarnations of the kaiju Rodan are irradiated Pteranodons. Gyaos' design also appears to be influenced by Pteranodon and other pterosaurs.
- In an early draft of Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II, two Pteranodons would be featured in a scene set on Adonoa Island, where they battle Mechagodzilla. The female is killed, but the male is knocked unconscious, exposed to radiation and becomes Rodan. This draft also featured a flashback to the Cretaceous Period showing a Pteranodon battling a Godzillasaurus. The finished draft of the film features a Pteranodon skeleton and a robotic imitation, two remnants of this scrapped plot device.
- In the 2005 remake of King Kong, the Pteranodon is replaced by a swarm of Terapusmordax, giant meat-eating bat-like creatures.
- In the 1932 novelization, the Pteranodon is replaced by "a great pterodactyl".
External links
See also
References
This is a list of references for Pteranodon. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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