Researchers in Argentina uncovered the remains of a pair of pterosaurs (flying reptiles) in the Andes mountains in the country's western Mendoza province that was huge. They were found in the Late Cretaceous Plottier Formation of the Neuquén Basin in fluvial or alluvial sediments dated to being 86 myo. The pterosaur has been described as a new genus of Quetzalcoatlinae [a subfamily of Azhdarchidae].
The creature was dubbed "The Dragon of Death" by the researchers, with it's official name being Thanatosdrakon amaru, with the first or genus name being a combination of two Greek words -- thantos (which means "death") and drakon (meaning "dragon"), and the second, or species name, amaru means "flying serpent" in the local Quechuan language and refers to the Incan deity Amaru.
The holotype consisted of a well-preserved in three dimensions but definitely partial postcranial skeleton consisting of several axial and appendicular bones, while not a lot contained elements that had not been described in giant azhdarchids, such as a complete notarium, dorsosacral vertebrae and caudal vertebra. It's wingspan was approximately 7 meters (23').
The second specimen, known as the paratype and was from a larger specimen, consists of a complete left humerus. Still, that's enough to determine that it's wingspan was likely 9 metres (30') long.
Not quite as big as Quetzalcoatlus itself, but still huge. In fact, Thanatosdrakon is the largest pterosaur discovered in South America, and one of the biggest flying vertebrates to have ever lived. It is also the oldest known member of the Quetzalcoatlinae.
Finally, the fact that the remains of Thanatosdrakon were found in floodplain deposits of ephemeral meandering systems strongly suggests that it inhabited continental environments, something there wasn't a lot of support for before.
The abstract for the paper, Thanatosdrakon amaru, gen. et sp. nov., a giant azhdarchid pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Argentina, can be read below:
Abstract
The largest pterosaur discovered in South America and one of the largest flying vertebrates in the world is described. Thanatosdrakon amaru gen. et sp. nov. is a new azhdarchid found in the upper-most levels of the Plottier Formation (upper Coniacian–lower Santonian, Neuquén Basin), Mendoza, Argentina. Two specimens were identified, the holotype (UNCUYO-LD 307) and the paratype, with an estimated wingspan of ∼7 m and ∼9 m, respectively. The cladistic analysis, based on 216 characters and 97 taxa, recovered Thanatosdrakon deeply nested within Azhdarchidae. Relationships within this clade are well resolved and the clade Quetzalcoatlinae presents two well-defined sister-groups: (Arambourgiania, Mistralazhdarcho, Aerotitan, Hatzegopteryx, Albadraco) + (Cryodrakon, Thanatosdrakon, Quetzalcoatlus ssp.). Thanatosdrakon is the oldest taxon of the clade Quetzalcoatlinae so far. It is represented by several well-preserved axial and appendicular bones in three dimensions. Some of these elements have never been described in giant azhdarchids (e.g. complete norarium, dorsosacral vertebrae and caudal vertebra) and this allows to expand the knowledge about the anatomy of this diverse group of pterosaurs. Finally, from a paleoecological point of view, Thanatosdrakon was found in floodplain deposits of ephemeral meandering systems indicating that this large flying species inhabited continental environments.
The largest pterosaur discovered in South America and one of the largest flying vertebrates in the world is described. Thanatosdrakon amaru gen. et sp. nov. is a new azhdarchid found in the upper-most levels of the Plottier Formation (upper Coniacian–lower Santonian, Neuquén Basin), Mendoza, Argentina. Two specimens were identified, the holotype (UNCUYO-LD 307) and the paratype, with an estimated wingspan of ∼7 m and ∼9 m, respectively. The cladistic analysis, based on 216 characters and 97 taxa, recovered Thanatosdrakon deeply nested within Azhdarchidae. Relationships within this clade are well resolved and the clade Quetzalcoatlinae presents two well-defined sister-groups: (Arambourgiania, Mistralazhdarcho, Aerotitan, Hatzegopteryx, Albadraco) + (Cryodrakon, Thanatosdrakon, Quetzalcoatlus ssp.). Thanatosdrakon is the oldest taxon of the clade Quetzalcoatlinae so far. It is represented by several well-preserved axial and appendicular bones in three dimensions. Some of these elements have never been described in giant azhdarchids (e.g. complete norarium, dorsosacral vertebrae and caudal vertebra) and this allows to expand the knowledge about the anatomy of this diverse group of pterosaurs. Finally, from a paleoecological point of view, Thanatosdrakon was found in floodplain deposits of ephemeral meandering systems indicating that this large flying species inhabited continental environments.
And, of course, pix:
Thanatosdrakon_amaru-novataxa_2022-Ortiz_David_Gonzalez_Riga_et_Kellner (1).jpg
Thanatosdrakon_amaru-novataxa_2022-Ortiz_David_Gonzalez_Riga_et_Kellner.jpg
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This graphic shows how Thanatosdrakon amaru (F) compared in size to today's Andean condor (A),
wandering albatross (B), and other pterosaurs, including the largest Quetzalcoatlus (G)
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