A family of Pteranodon sternbergi, winged reptiles from the Late Cretaceous, has taken up permanent residence in the entrance lobby of the newly renovated Yale Peabody Museum. David Skelly, the Peabody Director, highlighted the historical significance of the Pteranodon fossils, stating, "Given that famed Yale paleontologist and Peabody founder O.C. Marsh discovered the first Pteranodon fossils, we thought it fitting to have them welcoming people into the museum."
The life-sized models of the Pteranodon family, including a male, female, and their two babies, will greet visitors to the Peabody when the museum reopens on March 26. Skelly described the lobby as a "Pteranodon rookery," emphasizing how these models set the stage for the museum's exploration of evolution and biodiversity.
The renewed Peabody Museum now offers free admission and features expanded galleries, new research spaces, and interactive exhibitions showcasing the story of life on Earth. Among the iconic displays are the first-ever Brontosaurus and Stegosaurus skeletons, presented in dynamic new poses reflecting the latest scientific understanding of dinosaurs.
The Pteranodon fossils, discovered by Marsh in 1871, were excavated from the Niobrara Formation in Kansas, marking the first pterosaurs found outside of Europe. The resin models of the Pteranodon family were sculpted based on 3-D scans of fossil specimens by Triebold Paleontology Incorporated.
Marilyn Fox, the Peabody's chief preparator for vertebrate paleontology, explained how Pteranodon fossils, like other pterosaurs, tend to preserve flat due to their entombment in chalky fossilized marine remnants. The size difference between the male and female Pteranodons on display illustrates sexual dimorphism within the species.
The Peabody Museum invites visitors to reserve tickets on their website to experience the renewed exhibits and encounter the winged dinosaur family nesting in the main lobby.
