Few origami creatures feel as ancient and dramatic as the Pteranodon, with its swept-back crest and impossibly long wings. This little foil model captures that prehistoric attitude in just a few crisp folds.

It's a step up from beginner animals, but don't worry—if you've met the petal fold and preliminary base before, you'll cruise through it. The payoff is a sleek paper reptile that looks like it's about to leap off your desk.

PHOTO DIAGRAMS OF A PTERANODON

STEP 1. Use a sheet of square foil paper, 8 cm x 8 cm. Fold the top left and right edges to a width of 1/12” and the bottom edge to 1” wide. Then open out the hidden loose flap at the top of the paper.

STEP 2. Squash-fold the small triangular flap at the top.

STEP 3. Petal-fold the squash fold to form the head and beak.

STEP 4. Valley-fold the petal fold.

STEP 5. Using the creases you’ve made, collapse the paper into a preliminary fold, making sure the head and beak lie on the top layer of the model.

STEP 6. Petal-fold only the top layer of the preliminary fold.

STEP 7. Crimp both bottom triangular flaps to shape the wings, as shown below.

STEP 8. Narrow the left and right triangular flaps with mountain folds.