Fun Azhdarcho Facts For Kids

The evolution of humans dates back to 0.3 million years ago, but several other prehistoric and modern species of flora and fauna were known to have a history dating back to billions of years ago. According to paleoecology, bacteria are known to be one of the first living creatures on Earth, while dinosaurs and other animals are also considered prehistoric creatures. Reptiles, birds, and amphibians are thought of as descendants of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. One such interesting prehistoric creature is the genus of Azhdarcho, walking on Earth during the late Cretaceous epoch around 92 million years ago. Belonging to the order Pterosauria, the family Azhdarchidae, and the subfamily Azhdarchinae, it also had a distant cousin, the Quetzalcoatlus, among giant pterosaurs. The type species of the genus documented is Azhdarcho lancicollis. While Azdarcho is a Uzbek word meaning 'dragon', the specific name of its type species has a Latin origin from the words 'lancea' and 'collum' meaning 'lance' and 'neck', respectively. The specimen of fossil remains was first collected from the Bissekty formation by a Russian paleontologist, Lev A. Nesov. It was discovered from in Zhirkindek formation in Kazakhstan.

If the uniqueness of the Azhdarcho makes you interested in reading more about similar species, you can read about the Haopterus and the Navajodactylus.

Was the Azhdarcho a dinosaur?

No, the Azhdarcho was an Azhdarchid among Pterosaurs. As the Pterosaur was one of the close relatives of dinosaurs, it was one of the flying reptiles with distinctive long necks found within the temporal range from the mid-Turonian period of the late Cretaceous epoch around 92 million years ago.

How do you pronounce 'Azhdarcho'?

Azhdarcho is often pronounced as 'Az-der-ko' or 'Azh-dar-cho'. Azhdarcho is a Uzbek word meaning a 'dragon'. It was derived from the Persian term 'azhdar' referring to a 'dragon-like creature' portrayed in Persian mythology. Further, its type species was named Azhdarcho lancicollis because of the Azhdarcho's elongated neck vertebrae which were round around its mid-length. The specific epithet 'lancicollis' of the type species has a Latin origin meaning 'lance-necked' or 'spear-necked'. The name Azharchid is for the group of Pterosaurs having long necks.

What type of prehistoric flying bird was an Azhdarcho?

The Azhdarcho, a prehistoric wildlife creature, was an Azhdarchid Pterosaur. It lived along with dinosaurs with a history dating back to the late Cretaceous epoch. Although it was one of the largest flying birds, it was also found walking and swimming and foraging for food. It was classified under the order Pterosauria and had a distant relative from the group of giant Pterosaurs Quetzalcoatlus.

In which geological period did the Azhdarcho live?

The temporal range of the Azhdarcho varied from the mid-Turonian stage of the late Cretaceous epoch. Fossil remains were collected in the early 1980s and the history and evolution of the Azhdarcho date back to around 92 million years ago.

When did the Azhdarcho become extinct?

The Azhdarchid Pterosaur, Azhdarcho, lived around the mid-Turonian stage of the late Cretaceous period and probably faced extinction by the late Cenomanian stage. Although these Azhdarchids did not have any major threats, natural disasters, habitat loss, climate change, and predators are thought of as some of the most common reasons leading to their extinction.

Where did an Azhdarcho live?

Since Azhdarcho fossil remains were unearthed from the Bissekty formation and the Zhirkindek formation in Asia by Lev A. Nesov, the Azhdarchid Pterosaur was found living in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and around several countries of central Asia. Several species of Azhdarchids were found inhabiting central Asia and North America but no research confirms whether the Azhdarcho lived in North America.

What was an Azhdarcho's habitat?

While Azhdarcho was considered a flying bird, Azhdarchids among members of Pterosaurs were also found walking in a wide range of terrestrial habitats and swimming around freshwater basins. It was found walking in and flying over grasslands, forests, deserts, beaches, woodlands, wetlands, and areas with plentiful vegetation.

Who did an Azhdarcho live with?

These giant flying reptiles among Pterosaurs either led a solitary life or lived in pairs. While no research highlighted gregarious behavior, it could be found living in a group or a trio.

How long did an Azhdarcho live?

The lifespan of an Azhdarcho remains unknown.

How did they reproduce?

Though the reproductive biology of the Azhdarcho, a dragon-like creature from Uzbek, remains a mystery, it was an oviparous species that laid eggs.

What did an Azhdarcho look like?

While there are several restorations of the prehistoric bird, the reconstruction of the model of Azhdarcho is based on fossils discovered. Like Azhdarchids, an Azhdarcho had a long neck and a pointed crest. Though the neck had a confined strength for flexing, the animal could only move its neck vertically. It had elongated neck vertebrae which were round around the cross-section at its mid-length. It was one of the largest prehistoric birds that could fly as it was recorded to have a wingspan ranging up to 14.7 ft (4.5 m). There are only specimens of the wing, the leg, parts of its jaw, and vertebrate fossils recovered. It is similar to the giant dragon from Persian mythology.

How many bones did an Azhdarcho have?

The Azhdarcho osteology failed to record the number of Azhdarcho bones due to the incomplete skeleton of the bird.

How did they communicate?

While research does not record a specific communication mechanism, it probably communicated via vocalizations and gestures or movements.

How big was an Azhdarcho?

A Pterosaur such as the Quetzalcoatlus was one of the largest flying animals and it was a close relative of dinosaurs. An Azhdarcho was one of them with a length up to 10 ft (3 m) and it was around 7 ft (2 m) tall.

How fast could an Azhdarcho move?

An Azhdarcho was known to fly, swim, and walk, but the speed of the animal is not recorded.

How much did an Azhdarcho weigh?

An Azhdarcho was known to weigh around 220 lb (100 kg) on average.

What were the male and female names of the species?

The prehistoric animal does not have sex-specific names.

What would you call a baby Azhdarcho?

A baby Azhdarcho was often called a chick or a hatchling.

What did they eat?

An Azhdarcho was a carnivore and primarily fed upon carrion and meat of small vertebrates and dinosaurs, and hatchlings.

How aggressive were they?

It is thought that the Azhdarcho did not portray an aggressive temperament but no reports confirm this.

Did you know...

The Azhdarcho was discovered and named by Lev A. Nesov in the early 1980s. It was considered a prehistoric avian bird but the overview of Mark Witton described the Azhdarchid as a terrestrial stalker.

What is the largest bird of prey to ever have lived?

The Argentavis magnificens or the giant teratorn was known as the largest bird of prey.

What was the wingspan of the Azhdarcho?

The wingspan of the Azhdarcho was 14.7 ft (4.5 m).

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly prehistoric animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other creatures from our Batrachognathus facts and Europejara facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Azhdarcho coloring pages.

Hero/Main image- Model created by René Kastner, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Germany. Foto: H. Zell

Second image- Johnson Mortimer

*We've been unable to source an image of an Azhdarcho and have used an image of a Quetzalcoatlus imperator instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of an Azhdarcho, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at [email protected].