Nyctosaurus sp.
"night lizard"

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 Nyctosaurus is a long-winged pteranodont that sailed the air currents over the Kansas ocean in the Late Cretaceous period. Long thought to only have a small crest, unlike the distinctive crests of its relative Pteranodon, new discoveries prove that Nyctosaurus actually put its larger cousin to shame. At least one gender sported an enormous, antler-like display that was significantly longer than the reptiles entire body. In life, the antler may have supported a huge sail of soft tissue, as seen in the related Tapejara from South America.

   The sheer size of this crest would have posed an obvious problem for a flying animal. One explanation is that, if it did possess a skin sail, it could have been used to wind surf over the waves while using its beak to skim food. Some aerodynamic studies would seem to support this theory.

   Aside from its spectacular crest, Nyctosaurus is notable for having reduced the bones in its wing- it has only three bones in the wing finger, and has almost lost the other three fingers all together. When walking it would have used the "stubs" of its wing to walk on, like stilts. Like other pteranodonts, Nyctosaurus lacked teeth. Instead it had a sharp, pointed beak, ideal for catching fish, as well as a pelican-like throat pouch.