Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
397 / Mesozoic
Mesotitan
Mesotitan giganteus
Large wings and robust mouthparts belonged to the spectacular titanopterans.
View original image · 1600 × 1067- Time range
- About 230–220 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Triassic
- Geographic range
- Open woodland · Kyrgyzstan
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Mesotitan?
Mesotitan (Mesotitan giganteus) was an extinct organism known from About 230–220 million years ago, with a range in Open woodland · Kyrgyzstan.
Life and ecology
It flew or glided between branches and may have eaten plants or small prey.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Mesotitan disappear?
Its record, about 230–220 million years old, predates the end-Triassic crisis. Titanopterans as a group have no Jurassic record, but that does not establish the cause for this genus.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Mesotitan?
Wings, heads and body impressions reveal size, while diet remains disputed.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Removed an extinction cause that credited a mass extinction occurring after this species' last dated record.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS