Ptrenadon Ecology

by Fortuan

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Pteranodon Ecology

T he town council didn't pay heed to the druids who warned us about the reduced amount of seagulls. They advised we double up on crossbowmen on the walls because of less seagulls! We were glad that there were less of those pests around! - Mayor of Seaside Town

Introduction

Pteranodon is a general term for many flying dinosaurs. These flying reptiles characterized for their enormous beaks, leather almost bat-like wings, and their exciting head crests, are voracious carnivores patrolling for food. They are more than just pests to communities; they are dangerous to the inhabitants. Druids have trouble finding balance when such a dominant carnivore takes roost in the area.

Physiological Observations

Origins

It's theorized they are the first fliers to exist. While they have mastered and rule the skies, they are not as agile in flight as many birds, but then again, birds usually are not as dangerous as a Pteranodon to everything around them. They are strong fliers able to take off from a standing position and carry prey considerably more massive than themselves; they are not agile. Grace is left to the birds, as some experts say.

How to Identify a Pteranodon

Pteranodons are bird-like reptiles with large, heavily muscled forearms with spans of leathery skin in-between fingers and joints forming wings. Their back legs are small, and they all have a long tail. Their necks are relatively long and end in seemingly oversized heads. A Pteranodon beak can be up to half of its body length (or height when standing). The bill is long, straight, and narrow. Extending from the back of their head is a crest that varies depending on the species.

Hunters by Air

Pteranodons hunt by flying over prey and grabbing with their long beaks and returning into the air. They have large eyes with a rotating cornea that can "zoom" in on prey. They can either grab prey with their beak or will pick up larger prey with their back legs and fly into the air. Observations have indicated that larger species can pick up children with ease and even some adult humanoids. They are daily hunters eating only 1 meal a day but will hunt 2 to 3 times to bring food home to squawking young.

Pteranodon Acustics

Pteranodons have low sounding rolling calls. This sound is similar to how some humans roll their tongues to speak. They can be very loud with their rolling squawks. They usually call out to inform others of the community of food sources. Other times it just seems they want to startle prey just before they swoop in, making them easier to catch from not moving.

Flight

Their flight is a plodding and almost clumsy-looking affair for Pteranodon. They flap their broad wings with power until they reach their desired flying height. They will then glide on currents conserving energy. They are amazingly strong and can carry seemingly impossible weights while flying. They are unable to do complicated maneuvers such as rolls or spins like many birds. Fighting in the air is almost impossible for a Pteranodon. Their tails usually long and end in a nearly symmetrical leaf-like shape used as rudders to help steer while flying.

Movement on Land

On land, they stand on all 4 legs and lift their necks upwards. Their head will then be at a 45-degree angle to their bodies as they walk on their "hands" and feet. This stance is similar in a posture to that of a giraffe. Their crest is usually pointing up, and their beaks slightly down, which is the average head position in flight. They are slow on land as their wings are enormous and awkward to walk on while their back legs are very short. They are dangerous while on the ground using their mighty wings as weapons and their beaks, as usual, to tear attackers apart.

Wondrous Wings

Their wings made of the tough leathery tissue that runs from the tip of their last finger and connects each finger to the body's side. The wings end at the angle of their back leg running down the whole length (or height) from shoulder to feet. The wingspan can be up to 4 times as wide as the height of Pteranodon. For instance, if a specimen is 4 feet from legs extended to shoulder, it's likely to have a 16-foot wingspan.

Master leatherworkers can make leather goods from Pteranodon wing membranes. The leather is very thick and useful for many things, such as armor. It helps that as it is thick, it is flexible for use in flight. Their leather sells for a high price due to its rarity and strength.

Take-off

Take-off from the ground is a feat of impressive strength to those familiar with the mechanics of flight. While lots of fliers take a running head start, a Pteranodon will take off from where they stand. They will launch themselves using all 4 legs to jump straight up in the air and then spread their wings and flap to lift themselves higher, usually at a more forward angle with their backs facing the wind to expend less energy.

Di-morphism and Habitats

Males and Females are slightly different, with males being slightly larger and more colorful to attract mates.

Pteranodons are found all over the world, even in colder regions but usually during summer months. Most species migrate like many birds to favorable weather.

Social Observations

Life Cycle

Pteranodons are mated pairs across all species. They nest with both male and female hunting until the clutch of eggs arrives. They mate for life, producing up to 10 broods of 4 to 8 eggs every year. They will do this for their whole adult life even into an older age, which they can live to be up to 20 years old. Reaching adulthood, like most birds, only takes 1 season or year.

Flocking together

They are not lone pairs, and they live in communities or flocks. They will be massive in community size, with dozens of pairs sometimes reaching well into 100 or so. The number of couples can vary from specie, but the most common Pterodactyl are coastal fishers with large amounts of food that can support huge flocks.

Although it seems like they will have an increasing population very quickly, typically only 1 or 2 young survive the first season. It is incredibly competitive between the young in the nest as the mother and father let the young sort out amongst themselves who gets the food brought to them. Most of the time, a single dominant chick will survive; other times, 2 will survive, although they will compete until leaving the nest and hunting for their own.

Finding a mate

Once they reach adulthood, they go looking for a mate in the flock for a suitable match. The males show off their bright crests and colors to the females in hopes of impressing them. If a female accepts, they will stay together until death. Males display their prominent crests and hues to the female by landing in front of her, vigorously shaking his head. A female will accept by returning the display after waiting for time to decide or simply reject by flying away. Occasionally it will take time mates to be found, and singles will build their nests on the outskirts of the flock until a mate reciprocates. If a mate is killed or dies, they start the mating process all over again, although it's harder for older males to attract females as their colors begin to dim as they age.

Attitude to Other Flocks

If a flock runs into another flock, they ignore them as Pteranodons usually are only concerned for food, and if there's not enough to go around, a crowd will simply leave.

Intra- Species Observations

Calm Predators

Pteranodons are not very aggressive creatures, and they only attack what they could consider prey or something disturbing their nests. They are a menace to sea towns they decide to take roost near as they will pick up children and smaller adults as food. Eventually, if enough perish, they will leave a nearby town alone, fearing injury or death, although they will try again next season and have to re-learn their lesson.

Shared Niches

They are at odds with many types of birds. Seagulls of the coasts, and other birds where ever they live. Unfortunately, they take up the same niche in the environment and end up driving out competitors only by numbers. They usually don't have confrontations unless competition decides to make that move themselves.

Fighting Tactics

While they usually don't fight larger animals, they will if their nests are in danger. They do this by landing on the attackers and pecking at them with their sharp beaks. In a few observations, larger specimens drove off bears from their nests by landing on their backs and biting until the bear was injured enough to leave. If something is small enough to be picked up, they will do so and then drop them from great heights.

Short memory

If a more massive scale assault occurs and too many nests become destroyed, such as humanoid communities eradicating them, they will move on to other safer locations. Their memory is not long and may return to the same abandoned site if they chose next season despite the losses.

Variant Species

Pterodactyl

Pterodactyls are the kind mostly described above. They live in coastal regions preferring fish as prey. They are up to 6 feet (tall) with 24-foot wingspans. They will try and eat humanoids small enough although they still prefer fish. The males are teals and blacks, while the females are duller blue and browns. The male's crests and heads are bright reds and blacks. Crests are like a knobbed horn extending from the back of the head straight out for half of the beak length, for both males and females. Flocks will typically be between 50 and 80 pairs.

Rhodaran

These are much smaller variations that live in forests. They are only 1 foot tall or less with an average 4-foot wingspan. They primarily glide from tree to tree, snatching insects out of the air with their pointed teeth. Their favorite prey seems to be dragonflies, so they are especially fond of forests with bodies of water concealed in their midst. Being insectivores, they are rarely concerned with humanoids and only attack if bothered. They do migrate in colder regions to warmer areas during the summer months but not as large of migration as Pterodactyl. Flocks will have 200 pairs at most and little as 100. Rhodaran males are darker green in coloration, with females being a light brown. The crests are similar to a pterodactyl but curled up and the end, almost hook-like. Male crests are brilliant lime green with yellow markings.

Quetzalcoatlus

These are very dangerous and enormous variations. They are anywhere between 16 and 20 feet tall when on the ground and can have wingspans stretching up to 70 feet with a slightly smaller wingspan ratio. Making them quite the opposing figure as they can be as tall as a giraffe on all 4 legs. They are usually not in a flock; instead, they are more solitary with 1 pair. They live on mountain tops and consider their territory for up to 50 miles. They will pick up livestock, deer, or other animals and carry them away. Rocs are in confrontation with these massive pteranodons. Quetzalcoatlus will usually swoop down from great heights and carry off prey to eating them at the nest. They are dangerous as they can consider many things food due to their size. Quetzalcoatluses are dangerous fighters that will land on their enemies and tear at their skin with their beaks. If this fails, they will bludgeon foes with their wings, much like a duck will. Quetzalcoatlus usually initiates roc, and Quetzalcoatlus fights by diving onto a roc's back. Rocs are superior fliers; if they survive the first assault, they can recover and win a fight but often do not survive the initial onslaught. Males are usually bright colors of reds and yellows, with females being a duller brick red or dark orange. Both males and females have lighter colored chests as to obscure their presence to land dwellers. The crests are large wedges like that a Mohawk. The male's crests are slightly larger and brilliant blue with yellow and red marks.

DM's Toolbox

This guide assumes an integrated world of dinosaurs and regular monsters. In this case, Pteranodons are a far rarer occurrence than what would usually inhabit their habitats. Below are some ideas for using Pteranodon in your campaign.

  • A large flock of Pterodactyl has taken over the cliffs near a town driving the seagull population away. Children have started to go missing

  • Rhodaran are fleeing the forests inciting stories of clouds devilish bats to nearby villages. What could be driving them off?

  • A dwarven kingdom under the mountain has stopped trading for fear of confronting the new mountain residents the Quetzalcoatlus.

  • A craftsmen looking to make better leather employs adventurers to harvest Pteranodon leather, none have returned thus far.

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