Explore this animal in Size of Extinct Animals ↗
250 / Cenozoic
Sanders's Pelagornis
Pelagornis sandersi
Its estimated wingspan exceeded six meters, while bony pseudoteeth lined a beak adapted to slippery marine prey.
View original image · 1536 × 1024- Time range
- About 25–24 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Oligocene
- Geographic range
- North Atlantic coasts and open ocean · Southeastern USA
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Sanders's Pelagornis?
Sanders's Pelagornis (Pelagornis sandersi) was an extinct organism known from About 25–24 million years ago, with a range in North Atlantic coasts and open ocean · Southeastern USA.
Life and ecology
Pelagornis sandersi used long narrow wings for dynamic soaring above the ocean. It likely seized fish and squid near the surface; takeoff remains debated.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Sanders's Pelagornis disappear?
Changing ocean climate, winds and prey networks are proposed for the eventual loss of giant pseudotoothed birds; the cause for this species is not established.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Sanders's Pelagornis?
A partial South Carolina skeleton preserves skull, beak, wing and hindlimb bones; size and aerodynamic models constrain the huge span.
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?
- Rewrote an extinction cause that presented environmental or faunal turnover as established; it is now given as context the record does not prove.
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS