This Gigantic Bird Had a 20 Foot Wingspan and a Terrifying Beak with Teeth

The Pelagornis belonged to the family Pelagornithidae. These birds existed from the Late Paleocene age to the Late Pliocene age. Some of the species even lived during the Middle Eocene in Antarctica. These giant birds had a wingspan much longer than any birds of today. Read on to discover everything you could ever want to know about this large-winged prehistoric bird!

Period of Existence

The oldest known Pelagornis specimens are from the Late Paleocene age. These birds existed until about three million years ago. Evidence shows that early humans did not encounter these birds at all.

Experts know very little about this prehistoric bird. So far, only four species have accurate descriptions from fossil finds. However, there are likely still more fossils waiting to be unearthed.

Physical Characteristics

The Pelagornis had a wingspan of about 20 feet. In 2014, one species of Pelagornis, Pelagornis sandersi, was discovered. It had a wingspan of 20 to 24 feet. Birds this large are usually not capable of flight. Pelagornis’ general appearance was similar to modern albatrosses. However, their bills were larger with tooth-like extensions. Their distinct bills allowed them to grasp slippery prey items, such as squid or fish.

These ancient birds had stumpy and short legs. They were possibly 16 inches high. Their wings were long and slender, and these wings could have made them master gliders. Their wings allowed them to stay in the air for long periods, despite their huge size. These birds weighed about 48.2 to 88.4 pounds. Fossils show that the Pelagornis held its head upright and at a vertical angle.

The body structure of the Pelagornis was much like that of the wandering albatross. This species of albatross can soar over the open ocean for long periods. These birds can fly and glide using the currents produced by ocean waves. Because of this, the Pelagornis could likely have used the same technique.

Pseudo-Teeth

These birds had pseudo-teeth extending from the edges of their large bills. These were not true teeth, and they did not grow from sockets in the jawbone. They are not as strong as genuine teeth. Scientists believe that these teeth may have grown continually throughout the bird’s life.

When the Odontopterygiformes developed pseudo-teeth, the pattern was uneven, arranged in irregular waves. The one-of-a-kind pseudodentition helped the Pelagornis to attack and catch large prey. This adaptation allowed the Odontopterygiformes to evolve anatomically and functionally. These birds changed in size, movement, specialization, ecological adaptation, and skeletal structure. Scientists believe that the lack of grasping strength in the mandible brought forth the development of the premaxillary hook and pseudo-teeth in these ancient birds. Other experts interpret pseudo-teeth as bony outgrowths of the bird’s jawbone. They see it as dental tissue that does not have minerals.

Hunting Habits

Because they were sea birds, their natural prey were fish and other sea creatures. The Pelagornis would soar over the ocean surface and snatch the prey from the waters. Paleontologists say that the Pelagornis may have even hunted underwater with its superior diving ability. These ancient birds spend most of their lives flying over the open ocean. When they did stay on land, they had a difficult time walking because of their short tails and thick legs. That is why, when on land and not flying over water, they spent most of their time sitting rather than walking.

The vertical position of their heads is thought to have been meant for grabbing prey or scooping them from the ocean surface as they flew.

Behavior

Paleontologists say that the late emergence of the pseudo-teeth indicates that these ancient birds may have fed their young on land like modern birds. This could have happened long before they started feeding in open water. Evidence also shows that Pelagornis was a social group of birds. They are thought to have lived in large colonies and nurtured their young within these groups.

Scientists believe that these birds also nested in plateaus, on cliffs, and in other rocky areas. Doing so would have made it easier for them to take off from a great height. Once these large birds were in the air, their wings caught the air currents that lifted them up as they soared.

What Else Did Scientists Discover?

It was discovered that the Pelagornis had a salt gland in the eye. This allowed these huge birds to eliminate excess salt from their bodies. This was a good adaptation since a large portion of their diet was seafood. They also had a furrow in their skull. Experts say that this helped support their heads whenever they grabbed their prey in the ocean. These ancient birds may also have scavenged along the coastline. Scientists say that these birds were protective of their territory, young, and nesting areas.

Evidence shows that these birds flew hundreds or even thousands of miles each year. They possibly landed on many areas, including remote islands, to keep away from predators whenever they nested. Scientists add that these birds may also have molted all their feathers at the same time. This happens to feathers that are not suitable for flying anymore.

Living Environment

The Pelagornis thrived along the world’s coastlines. This made it challenging for scientists to determine the different types of animals that these birds lived with. Scientists believe that since the Pelagornis lived for quite a long time, it was likely that they interacted with many animals that frequented the oceans.

Based on fossil records, these birds likely stayed in warmer marine ecosystems, where there were cliffs for effortless take-offs. They could have interacted with cetaceans, penguins, and the megalodon.