Author of Multituberculate Earth and Lands of Fire

For a show about prehistoric life Surviving Earth sure has few pterosaurs. Only two to be exact, so this should be brief.

The “ptorotopterosaur”

This isn’t an actual species but a speculative missing link between lagerpetids and pterosaurs. It is portrayed as a glider (a minor pet peeve of mine, as flight probably didn’t evolve from gliding) but whatever. It is portrayed as gliding down to the beaches to feed on marine reptile eggs and young, which is a step up from depictions of “protopterosaurs” or other “proto-flyers” hunting after aerial insects, which would be too agile for mere gliders.

The Pteranodon

Oh sorry, the “Pteranodin” as it is pronounced. It is fairly accurate, down to giving it hyper-retracted wing membranes like the pterosaurs in Prehistoric World. It feeds by diving underwater after prey as inferred by its anatomy and diet; it swims using the hindlimbs only, of which there is actual evidence in ctenochasmatoid pterosaurs but doubtful in the small-hindlimbed pteranodontids. The way it launches from the water is also unnatural, and ultimately serves as shark fodder.

Concluding remarks.

I feel disappointed there are no more pterosaurs. For those there are they lean on the speculative, but are otherwise pretty reasonable.