Scientists have published a new paper detailing their findings of a fossilized predator they call the Dragon of Death.
Scientists discovered fossils of a giant flying reptile they’re calling The Dragon of Death. They discovered the fossils during an excavation back in 2021. Professor Leonardo Ortiz, who was part of the expedition, named it Thanatosdrakon amaru. The name is a combination of the Greek words for death and dragon.The Dragon of Death, as the creature is being called by most, was massive. Scientists believe it lived around 86 million years ago.
The remains of the Dragon of Death were found preserved in the rocks of the Andes Mountains. Scientists also believe that the Thanatosdrakon amaru may have been one of the first predators to use its wings to hunt prey. Despite those massive wings, though Ortiz also notes that the creature would have spent a good deal of its time on the ground, too.It’s crazy to think that there might have actually been dragon-like creatures that roamed the Earth.
That particular Dragon of Death, scientists believe dates back 170 million years to the Jurassic period. Those fossils were discovered on the Scottish island of Skye. It had an estimated wingspan of 2.5 meters . Not quite as large as the one that Ortiz and his expedition found, but still impressive, nonetheless.
Of course, the creature isn’t a dragon as you might expect based on fantasy stories. However, it is one of the first indications we’ve found of such massive creatures such as this living on Earth. Overall, scientists say that the Thanatosdrakon amaru could have been the same size as a bus. Just imaging something like that flying through the air is a terrifying thought.
Scientists continue to unravel the past through the discovery of new fossils every year. In fact, they previously found a
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