Quetzalcoatlus
Quetzalcoatlus is a genus of giant azhdarchid pterosaurs that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous.
Quetzalcoatlus is a genus of giant azhdarchid pterosaurs that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous. It is widely regarded as one of the largest flying animals ever known, and it was not a dinosaur. The genus belongs to the family Azhdarchidae and includes two species.
Description
Quetzalcoatlus was a giant pterosaur, not a dinosaur, with an exceptionally large wingspan and a long neck. It is among the best-known members of the azhdarchid pterosaurs, a lineage of large, often long-necked flying reptiles.
Discovery and naming
The type specimen of Quetzalcoatlus was found in 1971 in the Javelina Formation of Texas. It was described by Douglas Lawson in 1975 as Quetzalcoatlus northropi. The name refers to Quetzalcóatl, the feathered serpent deity in Mesoamerican mythology.
Size and flight
Estimates of Quetzalcoatlus's wingspan vary across sources, with common figures around 10–12 metres (33–39 feet). Because estimates differ, published mass and size values should be treated as approximate rather than exact.
Classification and ecology
Quetzalcoatlus is placed in the family Azhdarchidae within Pterosauria. It is an extinct flying reptile from the Late Cretaceous, but details of its diet and habits are less uniformly presented across references.
Key facts
- Quetzalcoatlus is a genus of pterosaur, not a dinosaur.
- It lived during the Late Cretaceous in North America, about 68–66 million years ago.
- It belongs to the family Azhdarchidae, which includes some of the largest known flying animals.
- The genus includes two species, with the type specimen Quetzalcoatlus northropi discovered in Texas in 1971.
- It is considered one of the largest flying animals ever discovered, with estimated wingspan of 10–12 metres.
Quetzalcoatlus is mainly relevant to Canadian readers through paleontology and natural history education, especially as a well-known example of a giant flying reptile from the end of the Cretaceous.
Frequently asked questions
Is Quetzalcoatlus a dinosaur?
When did Quetzalcoatlus live?
Where were Quetzalcoatlus fossils found?
How big was Quetzalcoatlus?
What does the name Quetzalcoatlus mean?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/QuetzalcoatlusSupports: Genus classification, family Azhdarchidae, and status as one of the largest known flying animals.
- Dinosaur Encyclopedia — https://dinosaurencyclopedia.org/quetzalcoatlus/Supports: Late Cretaceous age, approximate date range, and size estimates.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuetzalcoatlusSupports: Type specimen discovery in Texas, description in 1975, and species information.
- EBSCO Research Starters — https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/anthropology/quetzalcoatlusSupports: Late Cretaceous North American pterosaur, naming origin, family placement, and general biology.
- ExtinctAnimals.org — https://www.extinctanimals.org/quetzalcoatlus.htmSupports: Largest flying reptile characterization and general classification.
- Simple English Wikipedia — https://www.simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuetzalcoatlusSupports: Late Cretaceous range, genus with two valid species, and pterosaur identity.
- Science Museum of Virginia — https://smv.org/learn/blog/quetzalco-what/Supports: Common size estimates and public-science explanation of its large wingspan.