Quetzalcoatlus

Quetzalcoatlus is an extinct genus of giant azhdarchid pterosaurs from Late Cretaceous North America. Its largest species ranks among the largest known flying animals.

Azhdarchidae: A family of pterosaurs characterized by long necks, elongated skulls, and generally toothless jaws. Quetzalcoatlus belongs to this family of long-necked pterosaurs.
Pterosaur flight: Powered flight in pterosaurs, achieved with membranous wings and a flight apparatus distinct from birds' wings. Its body proportions make the mechanics of powered flight especially significant.
Quetzalcoatlus northropi: The type species of Quetzalcoatlus, known from fragmentary fossil remains in Texas. This species supplied the name and the largest size estimates for the genus.
Douglas A. Lawson: An American graduate student who discovered the first Quetzalcoatlus fossils in Texas. Lawson's 1971 discovery brought the genus to scientific attention.
Pterosaur: An extinct group of flying reptiles that lived from the Triassic through the Cretaceous. This broader group distinguishes Quetzalcoatlus from dinosaurs and birds.
Wing loading: An aircraft or animal's weight divided by its wing area, affecting speed and takeoff performance. Estimates of its wings and mass inform whether it could launch and fly efficiently.
Quetzalcoatlus lawsoni: A smaller species of Quetzalcoatlus described from more complete remains in Texas. Its better-preserved skeleton offers a clearer picture of the genus's anatomy.
Quetzalcoatl: A Mesoamerican deity associated with a feathered serpent and named in Nahuatl. The genus name invokes this deity, reflecting the fossil's discovery in Mexico's northern neighbor.
Pterosaur wing: A flight surface formed chiefly by a membrane supported by an elongated fourth finger. Its wing structure enabled flight despite the animal's enormous size.
Azhdarchid feeding: Feeding strategies proposed for long-necked azhdarchid pterosaurs, including terrestrial foraging and prey capture. Quetzalcoatlus's long legs and neck have prompted competing feeding reconstructions.

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