The Pteranodon (scientific name Pteranodon ingens) was the second-largest pterosaur of the Pteranodon genus. A pterosaur is a prehistoric flying lizard. It measured about 1.8 metres (six feet) long with a wingspan of 7.5 m (25 feet), and lived during the late Cretaceous period, eating fish and other small animals that were abundant during the period.

Pteranodon was notable for its skull crest. The crest has many blood vessels in it, found especially in male skeletons. It is belived that these were used as mating displays , in a similar fashion to how a peacock uses its tail feathers. Another common theory is that the Pteranodon's crest had a membranal flap on it, used as a rudder during flight. However, this theory is very unlikely, because it would have greatly restrained the animal's ability to move the neck vertically. Finds indicate that Pteranodon may have gathered in large rookeries during mating season. It is likely that males with bigger and brighter crests would be more appealing to the females.