Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ancient Bird With Largest Wingspan Yet Discovered

Posted by samzenpus on from the we're-going-to-need-more-seed dept.

sciencehabit writes Fossils unearthed at a construction project in South Carolina belong to a bird with the largest wingspan ever known, according to a new study. The animal measured 6.4 meters from wingtip to wingtip, about the length of a 10-passenger limousine and approaching twice the size of the wandering albatross, today's wingspan record-holder. Like modern-day albatrosses, the newly described species would have been a soaring champ.

1 of 55 comments (clear)

  1. Re:additional info by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    It likely wouldn't have been able to survive today, due to the increased number of Atlantic Hurricanes and more generally turbulent weather caused by global warming. The albatross could suffer the same fate.