What's a Quetzalcoatlus? Dinosaurs from Jurassic World: Rebirth

The Jurassic Park and Jurassic World films are just plain awesome. And here at the Imagining History office, we are tremendously excited that Jurassic World: Rebirth, a new entry in the series, is coming out this July.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be investigating some of the fascinating dinosaurs that will take a starring role in the new movie, including the cute Aquilops, the humongous Mosasaurus, the flying fortress known as Quetzalcoatlus, the sky-scraper like Titanosaurus, and the super scary Spinosaurus. So, buckle up, things are gonna get scaly!

Next up, making an appearance in the new Jurassic World: Rebirth movie:

This is what a Quetzalcoatlus might have looked like! Scary eh? Except for that red polka-dot party hat of course.

Quetzalcoatlus

Name:

There are currently two different types of Quetzalcoatlus that have been discovered by scientists. These are the Quetzalcoatlus northropi and the slightly smaller Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni.

If you’re wondering how to pronounce this creature’s very confusing looking name, you’re not alone! Here’s a handy breakdown: “ket-suhl-kow-at-luhs”. We know what you’re thinking – how did they get that pronunciation from the word Quezalcoatlus?!

Lived:

Around 72 million years ago in the Cretaceous Period

Relatives:

You know those awesome flying dinosaurs, the Pterasaurs? You may be familiar with some of them, such as the Pteranodon, the Pterodactylus or the Dimorphodon. Well, the Quezalcoatlus were part of a sub-group of Pterasaurs called Azhdarchidae (yeah, we weren’t sure how to pronounce that one either! Here you go: “ash-dar-kee-dee”). Azhdarchidae were some of the largest flying creatures to have ever existed. Putting all other pterosaurs in the shade of their enormous wingspans.

Two enormous Azhdarchidae fight over their prey as they hunt. Image courtesy of Mark Witton.

Size:

The largest of the two Quezalcoatlus species, Quetzalcoatlus northropi, is thought to be the largest flying creature that has ever lived on Earth. It stood at around 5 metres tall. That’s around the same height as an adult male giraffe. It also had a whopping wingspan of around 11 metres. That’s nearly the same length as a single-decker bus! So, imagine a giraffe, but with bus-sized wings. And a beak. A beaked, bus-giraffe. Are you imagining it? Yes? That's a Quetzalcoatlus!

Here's the two species of Quetzalcoatlus compared to the size of a puny human like you or I! Image courtesy of SlvrHwk

In fact, it’s wings were so wide that it wouldn’t be able to take off from a standing position because their wings would have hit the ground. Scientists believe the creature would have to jump into the air to get enough space to flap it’s wings and fly.

Diet:

Both species of Quezalcoatlus were piscivores (fish-eating) creatures. They had long delicate beaks that were perfect for snatching fish out of the water as they swooped low in flight. They would then gulp their prey down whole because they had no teeth to chew it with!

Appearance:

Like other pterosaurs, the body of the Quezalcoatlus was covered in hair, not feathers. They had long necks and long beaks, perfect for searching out and seizing its prey from the water.

Once in flight it would likely soar gracefully through the air like a condor. But when on land, it would have walked in a rather ridiculous fashion to avoid tripping up over its own wings! It first had to lift its left hand before it could move it’s left foot forward. Then it would place it’s left hand back on the ground for balance so that it could lift its right hand to move its right foot forward. Why not give this a go yourself and compare it to how other four-legged animals walk? Feels rather absurd, doesn’t it?