Re: Some questions

[Pieter.Depuydt@rug.ac.be]

> 5) What was _Quetzalcoatlus_' size? I have read that we know the skull of
> this giant Pterosaur. Is it correct?

The type specimen of Q. northropi consists of an incomplete wing 
skeleton. The wing span of this animal is estimated at 8-10m.
However numerous postcranial and cranial elements of a smaller Q. 
species (wingspan 5m) have been discovered in the Big Bend National Park in 
Texas. The cranial remains were described by Kellner and Langston in 
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 16(2), pp222-231, 1996. The skull 
is elongate, laterally compressed and edentulous, with a large nasoanteorbital 
fenestra (formed by confluent external nares and anteorbital 
fenestra), and a small orbit positioned posterior to the jaw 
articulation. A sagittal crest arises above the posterior half of the 
nasoanteorbital fenestra.
Kellner and Langston suggest the presence of a pelican-like gular sac 
in life and are sceptical about the formerly supposed carrion-feeding 
behaviour of Q.. Instead they suggest piscivorous habits, with Q. 
fishing on the wing, in the fashion of the existing skimmer.
The authors also state that Ashdarchidae (to which Q. belongs) and 
Tapejaridae are sister groups.

Pieter Depuydt