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Hatzegopteryx facts for kids

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Hatzegopteryx
Temporal range: Maastrichtian, 66Ma
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Hatzegopteryx humerus.jpg
Left humerus of the holotype specimen in ventral (A) and distal (B) view
Scientific classification e
Unrecognized taxon (fix): Hatzegopteryx
Type species
†Hatzegopteryx thambema
Buffetaut et al., 2002

Hatzegopteryx ("Hațeg basin wing") is a genus of azhdarchid pterosaur. It was found in Transylvania, Romania. It is known only from the type species, Hatzegopteryx thambema, named in 2002 based on parts of the skull and humerus. Additional fossils, including a neck vertebra, were included later. The largest of these remains shows that the Hatzegopteryx was one of the biggest pterosaurs, with an estimated wingspan of 10 to 12 metres (33 to 39 ft).

It is unusual because it had a very wide skull with large muscular attachments. The bones had a soft internal texture instead of being hollow. it had a short, robust, and heavily muscled neck measuring 1.5 metres (5 ft) long. This short neck was about half the length of other azhdarchids. The neck was capable of withstanding strong bending forces. Hatzegopteryx lived on Hațeg Island, an island situated in the Cretaceous subtropics within the prehistoric Tethys Sea. It was probably the apex predator of Hațeg Island, tackling larger prey (including dwarf titanosaurs and iguanodontians) than other azhdarchids.

Images for kids

  • Hatzegopteryx thambema wrist bone cast - Pterosaurs Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs

    Cast of an assigned wrist bone

  • Hatzegopteryx thambema neck bone cast - Pterosaurs Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs

    Cast of an assigned neck vertebra, Cleveland Natural History Museum

  • Comparaisons vertébrés volants

    Size comparison of Hatzegopteryx (red) with Pelagornis sandersi (orange) and royal albatross (green)

  • Hatzegopteryx-Witton-and-Naish-2017

    Hatzegopteryx (A-B, holotype in light grey and referred elements in dark grey) compared with Arambourgiana (C) and Quetzalcoatlus sp. (D-E)

  • Hatzegopteryx vertebra

    Referred seventh cervical vertebra

  • Azhdarchid pterosaur neck lengths

    Neck length of Hatzegopteryx (second from top) compared to comparable azhdarchids; Arambourgiania (at top), Quetzalcoatlus sp. (third from top)

  • Hatzegopteryx

    Restoration of H. sp. preying on the iguanodont Zalmoxes

  • Azhdarchid map

    Map showing diverse Late Cretaceous azhdarchid assemblages worldwide

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hatzegopteryx para niños

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