Very large marine pterosaurs probably able to
migrate huge distances. Thier long, keeled beak
could pluck fish from the water during flight.
Evidence,
Numerous fragmentary finds in Europe and South
America, mostly the Santana Formation in Brazil.
Different finds were initially identified as seperate
species, leading to some confusion about the naming
of giant pterosaurs. Many names have been suggested,
but Ornithocheirus (the name given to the earliest find)
seems likely to prevail. The huge size attributed to the pterosaur is based on several wing-digit fragments found
in the Santana Formation and in Europe.
Size,
A maximum wingspan of 40 feet (12 meters),
but a total body length of only about 11 feet
(3.5 meters). Ornithocheirus' weight is difficult
to calculate, but he was almost certainly extremely
light for his size, around 220 pounds (100 kilograms)
is possible. His head was about 5 feet (1.5 meters)
long and when standing on all fours he would have
been about 10 feet (3 meters) tall.
Diet,
Mostly fish and squid.
Time,
About 125-110 million years ago, Cretaceous period.
