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"Quetzalcoatlus, Late Cretaceous should have stayed there"
Kayla Watts upon the arrival of a Quetzalcoatlus(src)

Quetzalcoatlus was a pterosaur known from the Late Cretaceous of Texas (Maastrichtian stage, 72.1–66.0 million years ago). It was a member of the Azhdarchidae, a family of advanced toothless pterosaurs with unusually long, stiffened necks. Its name comes from the Mesoamerican feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl. It was also famous for being the largest species of any animal to ever fly. The type species is Q. northropi, named by Douglas Lawson in 1975; the genus also includes the smaller species Q. lawsoni, which was known for many years as an unnamed species before being named by Brian Andres and Wann Langston Jr. (posthumously) in 2021.


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Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Quetzalcoatlus



Discovery[]

The first Quetzalcoatlus fossils were discovered in Texas, United States, from the Maastrichtian Javelina Formation at Big Bend National Park (dated to around 68 million years ago) in 1971 by Douglas A. Lawson, a geology graduate student from the Jackson School of Geosciences at the University of Texas at Austin. The specimen consisted of a partial wing (in pterosaurs composed of the forearms and elongated fourth finger), from an individual later estimated at over 10 m (33 ft) in wingspan.

Characteristics[]

The Quetzalcoatlus clones greatly resemble their real-life counterparts. The crest is blue, and the wings are black and light pink. Like the real animal, they are covered in pycnofibers, which are light grey, with a tuft of black pycnofibers on the back of the head. Unlike the other cloned pterosaurs, they have four toes that don’t seem to be used to grab onto things. Instead a wingspan of 10-11 meters, clones have a wingspan of 14.3 meters.

Behavioral[]

During a Cretaceous period flashback, a group of four Quetzalcoatlus were engaging in scavenging behavior, gathering around a deceased giant fish. One individual displayed territorial behavior, snapping at a Pteranodon to deter it from approaching the food source.

In a separate incident, a Quetzalcoatlus exhibited aggressive behavior towards an aircraft, potentially perceiving it as a threat or intruder, and defending its territory.

Additionally, two Quetzalcoatlus were observed nesting on the rooftop of One World Trade Center in New York City, suggesting a possible pair bond, as they chose a high-altitude location for their nest, potentially providing protection and suitable breeding conditions.

Three Quetzalcoatlus are observed flying in proximity to a large flock of geese and Pteranodons, with their flight direction mirroring that of the flock, leaving it unclear whether the Quetzalcoatlus are migrating alongside them or actively hunting them.

Jurassic Park Franchise[]

Quetzalcoatlus is featured in the art gallery of Jurassic Park Institute.

History[]

In the Past[]

During the Cretaceous, four Quetzalcoatlus landed near a group of Pteranodons while one of them was scavenging the carcass of an unknown animal. Another one was passing through a Giganotosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex fighting.[1]

Jurassic World: Dominion[]

By 2022, the Department of Prehistoric Wildlife had a confirmed sighting of a pair of Quetzalcoatlus circling the CN Tower in Toronto, Canada.[2]

In the year 2022, a nest is seen atop One World Trade Center in New York City containing one individual with another, presumably its mate, flying nearby. At least one adult individual was housed in Biosyn's sanctuary. The corporation's sanctuary has an Aerial Deterrent System (ADS), which keeps pterosaurs safely below 500 ft and away from inbound and outbound aircraft. However, the ADS was disabled when Kayla's plane entered Biosyn's airspace. The Quetzalcoatlus attacked Owen, Claire, and Kayla on the plane on their way to Biosyn headquarters, before managing to escape them and flies away. Quetzalcoatlus were part of the animals that escape the forest fire caused by engineering locusts. At the end of the film, three Quetzalcoatlus were seen flying with a mix-flock of Pteranodons and geese.

Gallery[]

Promotional Images[]

Jurassic World: Dominion[]

References[]

  1. Only seen in the prologue, but it was included in Dominion's extended version.
  2. Dinotracker.com

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