Page 125 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

IT CAN’T BE TRUE! 123

FAST FACTS
Here’s how Argentavis lived The great bustard is
Quetzalcoatlus’s 6 million years today’s heaviest flying
wingspan compares ago and at bird and has a wingspan
to some other 23 ft (7 m) of 8 ft 3 in (2.5 m).
giant flyers. across the
wings was
the largest
flying bird ever.
Quetzalcoatlus lived
68–66 million years The wandering
ago and measured albatross has the longest
33 ft (10 m) from wings of any living bird, at
wing tip to wing tip. 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m).

Quetzalcoatlus was very thin and light
in the central body and neck, so, despite its
colossal dimensions, even this 33-ft (10-m)
individual probably weighed less than 550 lb
(250 kg). This is still twice as heavy as an ostrich.

A Tiger Moth has a wingspan of 29 ft (8.9 m).
Originally designed to train military pilots in
the 1930s, it can carry two people. It is still
famous and popular with pilots today.

MONSTER BIRDS

Teratornis (left) was an ancient
bird that was similar to a modern
condor, but bigger and heavier.
Its close relative, Argentavis,
was gigantic and weighed as
much as a person.

US_122_123_309600_ICBT_How_big_can_flying_creatures_grow.indd 123 19/12/17 2:36 pm