Quetzalcoatlus
Kwet-zal-co-at-lasName meaning: Named after the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the “Feathered serpent”
Time Period: Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) 68-66 Mya
Locations: Texas-Javelina Formation/Big Bend National Park
Taxonomy: Pterosauria-Pterodactyloidia-Azhdarchidae
Subspecies: Q. Northropi Q. lawsoni
Characteristics ~ ~ ~ ~
Its popular species was named after Northropi, founder of an airline production company that produced military stealth bombers. Douglas A. Lawson, Quetzalcoatlus discoverer knew he had found something special for sure. Having a wingspan of around 30 ft and a standing height of a Giraffe, Quetzalcoatlus is truly nothing short of remarkable. Its diet is interesting because there are many possibilities open to Quetzalcoatlus, being able to scavenge great distances for carcasses or by stealing the rewards of other hunters through the intimidation brought by its large size. It was most likely to have hunted smaller dinosaurs particuarly babies galloping after them then puncturing their vitals with its beak. Or I think it could have waited by rivers for a fish to enter its beak like a spinosaurid, or by puncturing fish with its beak like spearfishing. It was not a skimmer - when birds place their beaks along the surface of the water while flying to catch prey, its jaw was too weak and it would break it by doing such. A successful animal has been found plenty of times in the Hell Creek formation, one of the most popular and successful fossil beds.
History & Fossils ~ ~ ~ ~
Media Deptictions ~ ~ ~ ~
Prehistoric Planet Azhdarchids received a lot of attention throughout Prehistoric Planet. Quetzocoatalus has several scenes throughout the show, including: Two Quetzalcoatlus fighting a Tyrannosaurus over an Alamosaurus carcass. and Quetzalcoatlus protecting it’s nest. It's design doesn't have anything special going on with it being mostly muted colors unlike the exuberant Hatzegopteryx. The loud HOONK noises are quite funny, I know i'm rather childish for thinking that.
Jurassic Franchise Quetzalcoatlus appeared mostly in mobile games before any film appearances. With it's first being it Jurassic World Dominion where it manages to take down a transport plane that would have weighed around 100x more than it. The Dominion design is very accurate however dramatically oversized. One has also nested on top of the CN tower in Toronto Canada. It later reappeared in Jurassic World Rebirth being one of the 'dinosaurs' needed for a blood sample. It has a nest high in the cliffside in some ancient ruins. It's design feels very Jurassic Park esque with bright blue stripes and a deep orange beak with a sharp crest and quils along the back of the neck and it's a closer to normal size, still a little to big.
