Thanatosdrakon, whose name means "dragon of death," was one of the largest flying animals ever discovered, with an estimated wingspan of about nine meters. Its fossils were found in the Neuquen Basin of Argentina, dating to the Late Cretaceous around 86 million years ago, making it one of the oldest known giant pterosaurs. Like its relative Quetzalcoatlus, this azhdarchid had a long, stiff neck, a large toothless beak, and long slender wings built for soaring long distances. It was a carnivore that likely stalked the floodplains on foot, using its beak to snap up small animals while its giant wings let it cross rivers and lakes with ease. A powerful flier and a true apex of the prehistoric skies, Thanatosdrakon dominated the air above South America long before the age of dinosaurs came to an end.
