Hatzegopteryx facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hatzegopteryx |
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| Left humerus of the holotype specimen in ventral (A) and distal (B) view | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Order: | †Pterosauria |
| Suborder: | †Pterodactyloidea |
| Family: | †Azhdarchidae |
| Subfamily: | †Quetzalcoatlinae |
| Genus: | †Hatzegopteryx Buffetaut et al., 2002 |
| Type species | |
| †Hatzegopteryx thambema Buffetaut et al., 2002
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Hatzegopteryx (say "Hat-zeg-OP-ter-ix") means "Hațeg basin wing." It was a type of pterosaur called an azhdarchid. Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived during the time of the dinosaurs.
Scientists found Hatzegopteryx fossils in Transylvania, Romania. The first parts, including pieces of its skull and a bone from its arm (called a humerus), were discovered in 2002. Later, more bones were found, like a neck vertebra. These fossils show that Hatzegopteryx was one of the biggest pterosaurs ever! It had a huge wingspan, about 10 to 12 meters (33 to 39 feet) wide. That's as long as a school bus!
Contents
What Made Hatzegopteryx Special?
Hatzegopteryx was unique in many ways.
Its Head and Bones
It had a very wide skull. This skull had large areas where strong muscles could attach. Unlike many other pterosaurs, its bones were not completely hollow. Instead, they had a soft, spongy texture inside. This made its bones very strong and able to handle powerful forces.
Its Strong Neck
Hatzegopteryx also had a short, thick, and very muscular neck. It was about 1.5 meters (5 feet) long. This might sound long, but it was actually about half the length of the necks of other azhdarchids. This short, strong neck helped it withstand strong bending forces.
Where Hatzegopteryx Lived
Hatzegopteryx lived on an ancient place called Hațeg Island. This island was in a warm, tropical sea called the Tethys Sea during the Cretaceous period. This was a long, long time ago, when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth.
A Top Predator
On Hațeg Island, Hatzegopteryx was likely the apex predator. This means it was at the top of the food chain. It probably hunted and ate larger prey than other azhdarchids. This prey included smaller titanosaurs (a type of long-necked dinosaur) and iguanodontians (plant-eating dinosaurs). Imagine a giant flying reptile swooping down to catch a dinosaur!
Images for kids
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Cast of an assigned wrist bone
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Cast of an assigned neck vertebra, Cleveland Natural History Museum
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Size comparison of Hatzegopteryx (red) with Pelagornis sandersi (orange) and royal albatross (green)
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Hatzegopteryx (A-B, holotype in light grey and referred elements in dark grey) compared with Arambourgiana (C) and Quetzalcoatlus sp. (D-E)
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Referred seventh cervical vertebra
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Neck length of Hatzegopteryx (second from top) compared to comparable azhdarchids; Arambourgiania (at top), Quetzalcoatlus sp. (third from top)
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Restoration of H. sp. preying on the iguanodont Zalmoxes
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Map showing diverse Late Cretaceous azhdarchid assemblages worldwide
See also
In Spanish: Hatzegopteryx para niños
