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| Jump Start. How the biggest-ever flying animal got airborne. New fossil evidence. (Page 1/4) |
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rinselberg
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DEC 14, 02:28 AM
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A fully grown Quetzalcoatlus northropi had an aircraft-like wingspan of some 40 feet from wingtip to wingtip. There's newly published research about how this prehistoric behemoth managed to get itself airborne and flying. I said "new fossil evidence," but what is meant is "new interpretation of the fossil evidence that was discovered almost 50 years ago."
Paleontologists have had different ideas about it over the years:
| quote | With [an 11 to 12 meter] wingspan (37-40 feet), Quetzalcoatlus is the largest flying organism ever known and one of the most familiar pterosaurs to the public. Its fossils were first discovered in 1971 by University of Texas at Austin graduate student Douglas Lawson in Big Bend National Park, Texas, the United States.
Despite a half century of interest, Quetzalcoatlus remains very incompletely described. Some paleontologists think the ancient giant rocked forward on its wingtips like a vampire bat; or that it built up speed by running and flapping like an albatross; or that it didn’t fly at all. But according to new research, Quetzalcoatlus probably leaped, jumping at least 2.4 m (8 feet) into the air before lifting off by sweeping its wings. |
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"Fossils Reveal Unique Walking Behavior of Quetzalcoatlus"
Sci-News; December 8, 2021.
http://www.sci-news.com/pal...alcoatlus-10346.html
The image that I posted is an artist's conception of this animal that is known, from fossil evidence, to have lived 70 million years ago, towards the end of the era of the dinosaurs.
Do you "buy it"..? Can you picture it in your mind? This animal jumping 10 feet or so into the air as it started flapping its wings to become a flier, a transition that according to the news reports that I've looked at, it could accomplish in just about a single second from "clearance" to "takeoff."
You make the call.[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 12-14-2021).]
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82-T/A [At Work]
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DEC 14, 07:40 AM
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Where can I get one of those mangrove-palm hybrid trees where another palm grows out of the tree mid-way... that's pretty awesome.
That bird is terrifying. It wouldn't hesitate for a second to pluck me off the ground and swallow me up whole. I've seen what pelicans do to little duck babies... that end is not for me...
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rinselberg
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DEC 14, 07:52 AM
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Ha! Fun to see someone checking in.
I was reading that even this biggest of the pterosaurs would perceive a human as too large for a prey item. An infant human, likely, but you or I would not look like food to this species. It doesn't have teeth. That huge beak is being likened to a giant pair of chopsticks. So they're looking for critters that they can snag with that beak and gobble down whole, without biting or chewing the prey into smaller parts to swallow.
If there were one animal from prehistoric times that I could actually see (from a safe distance) this must be it. Even more than T-rex or the mighty "Brontosaurus."[This message has been edited by rinselberg (edited 12-14-2021).]
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82-T/A [At Work]
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DEC 14, 09:10 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by rinselberg:
Ha! Fun to see someone checking in.
I was reading that even this biggest of the pterosaurs would perceive a human as too large for a prey item. An infant human, likely, but you or I would not look like food to this species. It doesn't have teeth. That huge beak is being likened to a giant pair of chopsticks. So they're looking for critters that they can snag with that beak and gobble down whole, without biting or chewing the prey into smaller parts to swallow.
If there were one animal from prehistoric times that I could actually see (from a safe distance) this must be it. Even more than T-rex or the mighty "Brontosaurus."
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That will be good knowledge to have if I'm ever accidentally transported to prehistoric times. I suppose though, there's more pressing concerns... like cow-sized mosquitos, and other things with jagged teeth that can outrun a Lamborghini. I probably wouldn't last the night.
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williegoat
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DEC 14, 10:48 AM
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Quetzalcoatl's coiffed in a quiff!
Kwazy man, kwazy!
 [This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 12-14-2021).]
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82-T/A [At Work]
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DEC 14, 11:48 AM
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| quote | Originally posted by williegoat:
Quetzalcoatl's coiffed in a quiff!
Kwazy man, kwazy!
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I cannot like this...
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rinselberg
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DEC 14, 01:01 PM
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The "Cold Dragon of the North Winds."
Cryodrakon boreas, a newly described species of giant pterosaur, was identified from fossils discovered in 2019.
The artist dressed it up with something that might pass on first glance for natural pigmentation, until it is realized that the fossils were discovered in Canada's Alberta Province.
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82-T/A [At Work]
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DEC 14, 01:21 PM
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| quote | Originally posted by rinselberg:
The "Cold Dragon of the North Winds."
Cryodrakon boreas, a newly described species of giant pterosaur, was identified from fossils discovered in 2019.
The artist dressed it up with something that might pass on first glance for natural pigmentation, until it is realized that the fossils were discovered in Canada's Alberta Province. |
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Hahah! I was waiting for the punch line... I immediately looked at that and thought to myself... "this could be the national bird of Canada."
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Patrick
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DEC 14, 03:43 PM
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2.5
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DEC 14, 04:30 PM
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The real question is, do they have large talons?
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It's interesting to read