Quetzalcoatlus | 3D Dinopedia

Quetzalcoatlus

Period of life:

68-66 mya

Period:

Cretaceous period

Habitat:

Deserts and semi-deserts

Taxonomy:

Pterosaurs

Height:

5.5 m

Countries:

Cretaceous period Quetzalcoatlus | 3D Dinopedia

Quetzalcoatlus (68-66 mya)

Quetzalcoatlus is the largest pterosaurs specimen of the Azhdarchidae family, inhabited North America territory about 68 million years ago. First skeleton fossils, i.e. humerus and wing bone fragments were discovered in Big Bend National Park in1971. In 1975 the full skeletal structure was recovered. Quetzalcoatlus was later determined to be a real giant, twice Pteranodon size.

Quetzalcoatlus’ wingspan was about 15 metres, slightly less than a normal city bus length. The reptile weight varied from 70 kg to 250 kg, and the body length reached up to 11 metres. A flexible and long, similar to a living giraffe neck was crowned by a skull with pointed toothless beak. The Pterosaur had shiny eyes and a crest stretched on top of the head.

The reptile glided through the air space scanning for small vertebrates and carrion. It was also capable of fighting any dinosaur up to 30 kilograms weight. Whilst on the ground it slowly moved on all four limbs.

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