While Hatzegopteryx was a lightweight proportionate to its size (about 200 kg/440 pounds), it had a strong neck that would have been able to lift fairly heavy animals up to swallow (8). This pterosaur was recently equipped with new animations. Which begs the question: Why was such a large pterosaur living on an island populated by dwarf dinosaurs? Others think they waded and probed sand and mud to find fish, crabs and worms. What did they eat? Until more fossils are discovered, we may never know. Hatzegopteryx was a pterosaur which lived approximately 65 million years ago during the Late Cretaceous Period. This is reflected with the aforementioned Quetzalcoatlus (or more likely, Cryodrakon) from “Little Das’ Hunt”, which are depicted as essentially pencil-necked Pteranodon, just flying around and eating fish like any dime a dozen pterosaur. [8], In order to support the robust head, the neck of Hatzegopteryx was likely strongly muscled. [4] FGGUB R1625 would have belonged to a smaller individual of Hatzegopteryx (assuming it pertains to the genus), with a 5 to 6 m (16 to 20 ft) wingspan. Wikipedia has a more detailed and comprehensive article on Hatzegopteryx 1 Games 1.1 Jurassic World: The Game 1.2 Jurassic World: Alive 2 Navigation see Hatzegopteryx/JW: TG Hatzegopteryx can be created in Jurassic World: The … Restoration of the giant azhdarchid pterosaur Hatzegopteryx catching an unsuspecting dinosaur for supper. It was found in Romania in the region where a small island used to exist in the Cretaceous. northropi". sp., which warrants the retention of Hatzegopteryx as a taxon separate from Quetzalcoatlus. Pronunciation of Hatzegopteryx with 2 audio pronunciations, 1 meaning, 1 translation and more for Hatzegopteryx. The holotype of Hatzegopteryx, FGGUB R 1083A, consists of two fragments from the back of the skull and the damaged proximal part of a left humerus. [9], The massive jaw bore a distinctive groove at its point of articulation (also seen in some other pterosaurs, including Pteranodon) that would have allowed the animal to achieve a very wide gape. It is a member of the family Azhdarchidae, a family of advanced toothless pterosaurs with unusually long, stiffened necks.Its name comes from the Aztec feathered serpent god, Quetzalcoatl. [15] Meanwhile, other giant azhdarchids like Arambourgiania would probably have instead fed on small prey (up to the size of a human), including hatchling or small dinosaurs and eggs. The first remains of Hatzegopteryx were found from the upper part of the Middle Densuş Ciula Formation of Vălioara, northwestern Hațeg Basin, Transylvania, western Romania, which has been dated to the late Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous Period, around 66 million years ago. It probably hunted its prey by gliding toward the water and swooping up its meals. It may have also used its beak like a stork does and scoop up fish from the ocean to gobble down. in 2002 based on parts of the skull and humerus. While more evidence is still needed, all indicators seem to point to the fact that this flying reptile was probably a carnivore. The specific name thambema is derived from the Greek for 'terror, monster' (τό θάμβημα, -ήματος[7]), in reference to its huge size. He enjoys teaching and talking about physics. The Quetzalcoatlus (after Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god in Aztec mythology) is a large Azdarchid pterosaur. A large neck vertebra attributed to Hatzegopteryx is short and unusually robust. Hatzegopteryx ("Hațeg basin wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur found in the late Maastrichtian deposits of the Densuş Ciula Formation, an outcropping in Transylvania, Romania. For most other giant azhdarchids, including Arambourgiania, this surface is less than 2.6 millimetres (0.10 in) thick. It lived inland from the sea, near fresh-water ponds (so its diet was not primarily sea fishes and marine mollusks like other pterosaurs). [1] A similar internal structure is also seen in the cervical vertebra referred to Hatzegopteryx. Close. Many people prefer this dinosaur over the Pteranodon due to it being much more powerful yet still able to fly away. [5] However, this is likely not true, since the neck vertebrae of large pterodactyloids generally tend to be wider and larger than the rest of the vertebrae. [10], A large neck vertebra attributed to Hatzegopteryx is short and unusually robust. That’s perhaps the most unusual thing about this pterosaur. [4] While most pterosaur skulls are composed of gracile plates and struts, in Hatzegopteryx the skull bones are stout and robust, with large ridges indicating strong muscular attachments. Observing that the Hatzegopteryx fragment presented less than half of the original bone, Buffetaut et al. Hatzegopteryx is a pterosaur whose fossils were found in Transylvania, Romania. © NewDinosaurs.com, 2019. It may have even fed on some of the small creatures which lived on the island at the time. Although the neural spine of the vertebra is not completely preserved, the width of the preserved portion suggests that it was relatively tall and robust relative to those of other pterosaurs. Additional specimens, including a neck vertebra, were later placed in the genus, representing a range of sizes. It may have even fed on some of the small creatures which lived on the island at the time. The study shows that one group of extinct animals where our dietary knowledge is lacking are the pterosaurs; extinct flying reptiles who lived in the Mesozoic Period 215–66 million years ago. [8] Although initially identified as a third neck vertebra,[5] these traits supports the identification of the vertebra as coming from the rear of the neck, more specifically as being the seventh vertebra. Co-occurring pterosaurs included the small azhdarchid Eurazhdarcho, with a wingspan of 3 m (9.8 ft);[6] an unnamed, small-sized short-necked azhdarchid with a wingspan of 3.5 to 4 metres (11 to 13 ft); a somewhat larger and likewise unnamed azhdarchid, with a wingspan of 5 m (16 ft); and apparently small pteranodontids have been found as well. [8], While the skull of Hatzegopteryx was unusually large and robust, its wing bones are comparable to those of other flying pterosaurs, indicating that it was not flightless. Credit: Mark P. Witton/CC BY 4.0. [8], The skull of Hatzegopteryx was giant, with an initially estimated length of 3 metres (9.8 ft) based on comparisons with Nyctosaurus and Anhanguera, making it one of the largest skulls among non-marine animals. Hatzegopteryx is quite different, though, the researchers point out, having a short, thick neck with extremely wide bones and a spongy filling which added even more strength. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience possible. The necessary weight reduction may have accomplished by the internal structure of the skull bones, which were full of small pits and hollows (alveoli) up to 10 millimetres (0.39 in) long, separated by a matrix of thin bony struts (trabeculae). in 2002 based on parts of the skull and humerus. established that it could possibly have been "slightly longer" than that of Quetzalcoatlus. Likewise, the opisthotic process, neural spines, and zygapophyses all appeared to have been large and robust (with the latter bearing many pits and edges that likely represent muscle scars), and the basioccipital tuberosities were long; these all serve as points of attachment for various muscles of the head and neck. Additional specimens, including a neck vertebra, were later placed in the genus, representing a range of sizes. This may represent a compromise between increasing bending strength and buckling strength; higher R/t ratios lead to improved bending strength, but weaker buckling strength. [20] Crocodilian remains, belonging to the genera Allodaposuchus, Doratodon, and Acynodon have also been found. This is contrary to earlier skull material, which seemed to have shown an unusually blunt snout. suggested that, in order to fly, the skull weight of Hatzegopteryx must have been reduced in some way. The wingspan of the latter had been estimated at 11 to 12 metres (36 to 39 ft) in 1981; earlier estimates had strongly exceeded this at 15 to 20 metres (49 to 66 ft). [8] Another pterosaur, Thalassodromeus, has similarly been suggested to be raptorial. All rights reserved. [8], Like all azhdarchid pterosaurs, Hatzegopteryx was probably a terrestrially foraging generalist predator. The ecosystem contained a number of insular dwarfs, namely the titanosaurs Magyarosaurus[20] and Paludititan,[21] the hadrosaurid Telmatosaurus, and the iguanodontian Zalmoxes. In the Sânpetru Formation from the locality of Vadu, Sântămăria-Orlea, a medium-sized scapulocoracoid was found, which probably pertained to an individual with a wingspan of 4.5 to 5 m (15 to 16 ft). Back then, a majority of the fauna on the island were smaller than their inland relatives due to a smaller food supply. [17] The robust, flightless, and possibly herbivorous avialan[18] or dromaeosaurid[19] Balaur, which had two enlarged claws on each foot,[19] represents another highly specialized component of the fauna. [20] Along with the nodosaurid Struthiosaurus, various small, fragmentary maniraptorans were present: Bradycneme, Elopteryx, and Heptasteornis. Hatzegopteryx is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur, known from incomplete remains found in Transylvania. It probably ate arthropods (like early crayfish) and dying animals. These were initially the basis of the taxon's referral to the clade Azhdarchidae,[1] but they are also similar enough to be a basis for the synonymy of Hatzegopteryx and Quetzalcoatlus. Insular dwarfism happens on small islands because the creatures stay small so they don’t use up all of the island’s resources. At first, researchers thought that pterosaurs ate small baby dinosaurs the … With no other giant predators on the island these Hatzegopteryx were the top of their ecosystem. Hatzegopteryx was a pterosaur - a flying reptile that existed at around the time of the dinosaurs. Picking up prey with it 's long, toothless, tweezer-like beaks which originally hinted at a of! Sturdy and stress-resistant, but also lightweight, enabling the animal began to emerge last... You get the best experience possible a huge pterosaur with a speculative display feature azhdarchid... 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