Quetzalcoatlus

1 week ago - Quetzalcoatlus northropi has gained fame as a candidate for the largest flying animal ever discovered, though estimating its size has been difficult due to the fragmentary nature of the only known specimen. While wingspan estimates over the years have ranged from 5.2–25.8 m (17–85 ft), ...

1 day ago - The respiratory system had efficient ... of adult sizes, from the very small anurognathids to the largest known flying creatures, including Quetzalcoatlus and Hatzegopteryx, which reached wingspans of at least nine metres....

March 26, 2025 - With a 37- to 40-foot wingspan, it was the largest flying animal that ever lived on Earth. In six papers published today as a Memoir by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, scientists and an artist provide the most complete picture yet of this dinosaur relative, the largest example of which is represented by just a single set of fossilized bones collected in the late 1970s from Big Bend National Park.

Quetzalcoatlus dominated the skies of North America at the end of the Dinosaur Age and flew high over such famous creatures as Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. As tall as a giraffe, the biggest Quetzalcoatlus species were also the largest of all ...

March 20, 2024 - One member of genus Quetzalcoatlus, Q northropi, is widely believed to have been the largest flying creature that ever lived. Paleontologists contend that members of the species stood about 5 meters (16 feet) tall and had a wingspan of up to ...

February 28, 2025 - Today, the more widely accepted estimate is around 33 feet (10 meters) — that’s longer than a school bus! — earning its title as the largest flying creature in the history of vertebrate paleontology.

December 16, 2021 - Standing over 12 feet tall with a 40-foot wingspan, the ancient pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus was the biggest flying animal in history.

September 30, 2025 - These massive, winged reptiles evolved and lived during the Mesozoic Era (circa 252-66 million years ago) alongside dinosaurs. The earliest pterosaurs on record occurred during the Late Triassic Period (237-201 million years ago). The largest pterosaurs belong to the Azhdarchidae family, characterized by large skulls with elaborate cranial crests, long necks, short, stout bodies, and toothless jaws. Paleontologists have discovered flying dinosaurs, such as Archaeopteryx and Anchiornis.

December 9, 2021 - However, the team was able to reconstruct a skeleton for the new species and infer what the larger one looked like, according to the press release. Then, with the help of an aerospace engineer and a biomechanic, the team of paleontologists learned how Quetzalcoatlus managed to fly, Jordan Mendoza reports for USA Today.

August 7, 2025 - It’s the fragmentary remains of a pterosaur—a flying reptile—that lived in Transylvania, Romania, 66 million years ago, and just might be the largest animal that has ever flown.

July 24, 2025 - It’s recognized for its long, toothless beak and massive wingspan, making it one of the largest flying animals of its time. Its name comes from Greek words meaning “winged and toothless.” ... Lightweight and cost-effective artificial pterosaur skeletons are the best exhibits for showcasing prehistoric creatures in a museum setting.

Quetzalcoatlus (meaning feathered serpent) is an extinct genus of large pterosaur from the Late Cretaceous of North America. The type species is Quetzalcoatlus northropi. The holotype was discovered in Texas in 1971 by geology graduate student ...

June 27, 2023 - This flying reptile was likely covered in a layer of fur and was also warm-blooded. With a wingspan like a fighter jet at over 40 feet across, Quetzalcoatlus was the largest pterosaur ever to live. It likely hunted small dinosaurs on land but could also hold its own with larger predators when they fought over a discarded hunt.

February 1, 2023 - The undisputed giant of the skies a pterosaur so massive, it may have been the largest flying animal of all time, with wings stretching nearly 16 metres (59 feet). ... During the Late Cretaceous in North America, the enantiornithine bird Avisaurus attacks a recently hatched baby Quetzalcoatlus (by Brianj996b) ... Prehistoric Planet has a habit of showing animals in ways we don't expect, same holds true for one of my favorite Dinosaurs Therizinosaurus.

December 8, 2021 - With a wingspan of almost 40 feet, the giant pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus is the largest known flying animal. However, since only a few fossilized bones were discovered in West Texas in 1971, how such a massive creature managed to fly has remained ...

An official website of the United States government · Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States