The size of Mesozoic animals - Part 3, Pterosaurs

Gigadino

MemberCompsognathusSeptember 20, 20132061 Views9 Replies

[img]http://31.media.tumblr.com/60eb44fb2efe757da0b3d922a025aaa9/tumblr_mqi8tpg5Zf1r38ji3o1_1280.png[/img] #1. Hatzegoperyx Wingspan: 10-11 m [img]http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4034/4716338603_6ecc832c3e_b.jpg[/img] #2. Quetzalcoatlus Wingspan: 9-11 m [img]http://i.dawn.com/2013/03/prehistoric-reptile-2-670jpg.jpg[/img] #3. Tropeognathus Wingspan: 8,2 m [img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PY8ZixvR0k/UH_oWjkofrI/AAAAAAAAAjc/cds4TRvpXuA/s1600/tumblr_mbwyx79PkB1rj34fvo1_1280.png[/img] #4. Geostembergia Wingspan: 7,25 m [img]http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2012/070/e/c/arambourgiania_philadelphiae_by_rajaharimau98-d4semob.jpg[/img] #5. Arambourgiania Wingspan: 7 m [img]http://apxeo.info/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/coloborhynchus_capito_pterosaur.jpg[/img] #6. Coloborynchus Wingspan: 7 m [img]http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/333/f/d/moganopterus_zhuiana_by_teratophoneus-d5mitwh.jpg[/img] #7. Moganopterus Wingspan: 7 m [img]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aKsEJl6_DAY/TXgrR6g4eNI/AAAAAAAABCI/JXZpYPFh_y8/s1600/pteranodon.jpg[/img] #8. Pteranodon Wingspan: 6,25 m [img]http://gwawinapterus.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/pterosaurio1.jpg[/img] #9. Tupuxuara Wingspan: 6 m [img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b1/OrnitocheiridsDB.jpg[/img] #10. Santanadactylus Wingspan: 5,7 m

DinoSteve93
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

Nice list. Hatzegopteryx was really huge, as well as Quetzalcoatlus. A wingspan almost as long as T-rex!

Proud founder of the site Theropods Wiki! www.theropods.wikia.com

Rex Fan 684
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

I feel like Ornithocheirus/Criorhynchus deserves a spot on there. The lower estimates put it's wingspan at about 6-7 meters while the higher ones suggest it could have been as big as 12 meters. [img]http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100502084725/walkingwith/images/1/1c/Ornitocheirus.jpg[/img]

"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names." ―Alpha-98

DinoSteve93
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

12 meters wingspan... that's what I call an (extinct) living plane, :P.

Proud founder of the site Theropods Wiki! www.theropods.wikia.com

Rex Fan 684
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

Yeah, you got that right ;)

"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names." ―Alpha-98

Gigadino
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

12 m is by far too much. The original material of Ornithocheirus, recovered from England, indicates a mid-sized species with a wing span of 2.5 m. Referred specimens attributed to Ornithocheirus can reach 5 m. It was still huge though.

Deltadromeus
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

I thought Arambourgiana was a lot bigger than 7 meters. The biggest is around 12. I personally use feet, so this is what I think Hatzegoperyxs 45 feet Quetzlequatlus 40 feet Arambourgiana 40 feet Ornithocheirus 39-40 feet I didn't bother to write the next ones (that's my way of saying I didn't know)

Rex Fan 684
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

Isolated fossils found in S. America, specifically Brazil, that have been attributed to Ornithocheirus/Criorhynchus show sizes in the 12 meter(40 ft) ballpark. GigaDino, I can tell by the estimates you give that you use Wikipedia. I don't recommend using Wikipedia. Some of the info is ok, but I don't trust/agree with most of it. Just saying ;)

"Men like me don't start the wars. We just die in them. We've always died in them, and we always will. We don't expect any praise for it, no parades. No one knows our names." ―Alpha-98

No longer active
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 20, 2013

I like his estimates, they're great. However, I do agree on "Ornithocheirus" being bigger than 11 m from tip to tip based on a jaw piece any humerus belonging to an azhdarchid that resembled Ornithocheirus. The pieces come from Austria, not South America. (however, giant pterosaur fragments have been found there, also belonging to azhdarchids) The species is "Ornithocheirus" buenzeli, though it is not actually an Ornithocheirus species. [url=http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ornithocheirus_buenzeli]CLICK ME IM A LINK TO O. BUENZELI[/url]

Gigadino
Group: Member
Rank: Compsognathus
View Profile

September 21, 2013

Well, if you don't agree with his estimate, this doesn't meaning that it's a bad source. Wikipedia's infos were referentiated. The Ornitocheirus that is supposed to be 11 m isn't actually a Ornitocheirus species.