Remains of the "biggest flying creature" likely to have been prepared on young dinosaurs found in the United Kingdom – Report

16:19 22.09.2019Get a short URL

The huge flying hunters known as pterosaurs weighed up to several hundred pounds and would have fallen prey to baby dinosaur babies.

A special discovery was made on the Isle of Wight, where scientists discovered fossilized remains of a huge prehistoric flying creature with a wingspan of at least 20 feet, reports the Sunday Times.

According to the newspaper, the gigantic pterosaur belonged to the species Hatzegopteryx and lived about 125 million years ago, "while present England lies thousands of kilometers to the south".

These creatures could weigh up to 300 kg and have even been prey to baby dinosaurs, 3D modeling suggesting that these aerial hunters "used their big leg muscles and wings as catapults" to propel their heavy bodies into the air .

"It may be the greatest flying creature ever to live up to this time," said Robert Coram, the man who made the discovery.

He also speculated that the remains discovered may have belonged to "one of the first super-pterosaurs", and told himself that in a place "incredibly highly prospected by people almost daily", as the Isle of Wight, one must spot "the little things" that others forget to make discoveries like this one.

Last year, scientists also managed to unearth a giant pterosaur species hitherto unknown in Utah.

And in 2017, more than 200 preserved pterosaur eggs were discovered in China, offering researchers the opportunity to learn about the progression of pterosaurs from an egg to an adult.