A scientist who took part in the discovery of the reptile, whose wingspan is stated to be 9 meters, told the BBC that the size of the predator had a “terrifying appearance”.
“This species has a giraffe-like size, with a wingspan that challenges the limits of our biological understanding,” said Leonardo Ortiz, lead author of the study.
The remains of the predator have been preserved under rocks in the Andes for 86 million years. This means that this flying animal lived at the same time as the dinosaurs.
prof. Ortiz was one of the first paleontologists to discover reptilian fossils during an excavation in Argentina in 2012.
Choosing the name of the species as “Thanatosdrakon amaru”, which corresponds to the Greek words for death and dragon, Prof. “It seemed appropriate to call it that way: the Dragon of Death,” Ortiz had said in a previous interview.
The reptile in question is believed to be the first predator to use its wings to hunt and fly in prehistoric times, before the evolution of birds.
However, this predator probably spends most of its time on the ground, Prof Ortiz said.
Although there are not many details about the predator’s prehistoric lifestyle, Prof. The discovery of the predators as a pair of different sizes is proof that this species lives in groups, Ortiz said.
