'Dragon of Death' - Fossils of Massive Reptile Unearthed in Argentina

Fossilized remains of a huge reptile have been unearthed in Argentina, Mail Online reports. The creature, which lived alongside the dinosaurs some 86 million years ago, has been dubbed the "Dragon of Death."

With a length of about 9 meters, it is the largest pterosaur discovered in South America, and one of the largest known flying vertebrates.

Researchers say the "beast" was likely a fearsome sight as it chased its prey out of the prehistoric sky.

It is estimated that this fearsome species lived for at least 20 million years before an asteroid impact on what is now Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 66 million years ago wiped out about three-quarters of life on the planet.

Thanatosdrakon amaru

A team of paleontologists discovered the fossils of the newly discovered Thanatosdrakon amaru in the Andes Mountains in Argentina's western Mendoza province.

Leonardo Ortiz, the project's leader, said the fossil's never-before-seen features necessitated a new genus and species name, the latter composed of the ancient Greek words for death (thanatos) and dragon (drakon).

Ortiz, who is from the National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, said that it seemed appropriate to name as the dragon of death.

The gargantuan reptile was as long as a yellow school bus and had an estimated wingspan of about 30 feet (9 meters).

About 40 bones and fragments were excavated by the paleontology team.

They said the fossil's huge bones classify the new species as the largest pterosaur yet discovered in South America and one of the largest in the world.

The researchers found that the rocks where the reptile's remains were found dated back 86 million years to the Cretaceous period, which lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago.

Ortiz said that there are no current record of a close relative with even a similar body modification to these animals.

The researchers wrote in their paper that Thanatosdrakon is the largest pterosaur to cross the Cretaceous skies of South America discovered to date.

They said the discovery will allow scientists to expand knowledge of the anatomy of this diverse group of pterosaurs.

Ortiz's study was published in the journal Cretaceous Research with co-authors Bernardo J. González Riga and Alexander W. A. Kellner.

Read also: Post-Dinosaur World: Prehistoric Mammals Use Muscles First Before Their Brains to Survive 

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs were flying reptiles that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, which were neither birds nor bats, but reptiles that ruled the skies during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Scientists have long debated where to place pterosaurs in the evolutionary family tree.

The prevailing theory today is that pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and crocodiles are closely related and belong to a group known as archosaurs, but this is still unconfirmed.

Pterosaurs evolved into dozens of species. Some were as large as an F-16 fighter jet, others as small as a sparrow.

They were the first animals after insects to evolve powered flight - not just jumping or gliding, but flapping wings to generate lift and move through the air.

Pterosaurs had hollow bones, large brains with well-developed optic lobes, and several crests on their bones where the flight muscles are attached.

Related article: New Pterosaur Dinosaur Fossil Discovered on the Isle of Skye, Scotland