Quetzalcoatlus

Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatlus northropi, Lawson, 1975

number on the map: 41

Order: Pterosauria

This pterosaur of an immense size lived in the area of North America. Its name comes from Quetzalcoatl – a deity of Mesoamerican cultures from the pre-Columbus times, who was pictured as a snake with feathers. Until this day it is considered one of the biggest animals that have ever lived on Earth. Quetzalcoatlus didn’t have teeth, and its jawbone was about 2 metres long!

The estimated weight of this pterosaur (even up to 540 kg) suggested it to have been flightless; however later research showed that it may not have flown dynamically and at high speeds, but rather tend towards short-distance, gliding flight.

wingspan: 10–15,5 m
body mass: 70–250 m kg
temporal range: 68–66 mya