How did the 250-kilogram lord of the sky manage to fly?
The pterodactyl Quetzalcoatlus shows tremendous flying skills in the new movie “Jurassic World”. But experts are puzzled by how the giant lizard appeared in the air.
Big beak and long neck: this is what the Quetzalcoatlus should have looked like.
Visualization: Paul Obasca (Panther Media)
Warning light comes on in the cockpit, screeching while he’s there. A giant pterosaur falls from the sky, attacks the plane of heroes, cuts its turbines with its meter-long beak, and takes off again. Universal Pictures is using this scene to promote the sixth installment in the Jurassic Park film series. Even this synopsis makes it clear: The Rulers of the Air are giant flying lizards in the movie.
“Jurassic World: A New Age” opens in Swiss cinemas on Thursday. There is a scientific blurriness in all the films of the series; For example, most dinosaurs may not have been green-brown crustaceans as depicted, but rather brightly colored and feathered. Now some scientists from Japan and France have examined the aerodynamics of many primitive giants and concluded in the journal “PNAS Nexus”: Pterosaurs may have never had control of any airspace. He could only fly so badly. He spent most of his time on the ground.
Bad flying characteristics
Quetzalcoatlus was very heavy. Due to its flight characteristics, its performance is worse than today’s giant bustard – these are African birds weighing almost 20 kilograms, which live mainly in the countryside and fly only in emergency situations to escape from poachers. Scientists imagine Quetzalcoatlus’ behavior to be similar. So he walked mostly on the ground, on his winged legs and arms. To hunt or flee, it can flap through the air for short distances. His weight did not allow for more.
Found an error?Report now.
“Subtly charming coffee scholar. General zombie junkie. Introvert. Alcohol nerd. Travel lover. Twitter specialist. Freelance student.”
More Stories
Adrenalin Edition 24.4.1: When the Manor Lords arrive tomorrow, the driver will be ready
Intel offers a special graphics driver for “palaces”
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria mutated in space