Study: Fossil soaring bird had huge wingspan

Associated Press ^ | Jul 7, 2014 3:12 PM EDT | Malcolm Ritter

[Olog-hai]

A fossil found in South Carolina has revealed a gigantic bird that apparently snatched fish while soaring over the ocean some 25 million to 28 million years ago.

Its estimated wingspan of around 21 feet is bigger than the height of a giraffe. …

[doc1019]

They have film of this bird snatching fish from the ocean? Otherwise, it may have been vegetarian and snatched leaves from trees.

[The Cajun]

Have read reports, over the years, about a bird as big as a Cessna seen flying in Canada and Alaska.

Not a pterodactyl, but modern bird looking, very big thing.

[GladesGuru]

Perhaps it was “Super Goose” and snarfed up huge amounts of grass.

Brother, does you believe?

;-)

[RightGeek]

http://www.rense.com/general30/giant.htm

[doc1019]

Show me the skeletons of hundreds of these things and I would believe this was anything but a freak of nature. As for the 25 million to 28 million thingy ... that is another argument. LOL!

[The Cajun]

What I read goes way, way back.
Probably one of the old Popular Science/Science and Mechanics type of magazines I used to get, back in the day before the Internet.

Story of them has been around for years.

First time I've read that an actual skeleton on such an avian, capable of flight exists, be it millions of years old.

[Cold Heart]

National Geographic had a two hour special about megaldon (a really really big shark) showing up in various oceans. A large whale beached in Hawaii was bitten in half, which marine biologists claim was done with one bite.

[UCANSEE2]

[UCANSEE2]

Many birds snatch fish from the ocean.

They don’t even have to touch the surface because there are flying fish.

Of course there are the birds that can dive down 30 feet and chase the fish they want.

Why would one doubt that a large bird could exist that caught it’s food out in the ocean?

Is is just the size that is hard to believe ?

[doc1019]

?

[RegulatorCountry]

The problem is that dietary claims based upon fragmented skeletal remains are sketchy at best. It’s a presumption or a guess.

[smokingfrog]

[The Cajun]

Now that's a big birdie :)

[UCANSEE2]

Did you see those teeth ?

[RegulatorCountry]

Yes, and to my knowledge teeth are not necessary to scoop fish out of the ocean.

[UCANSEE2]

It’s a presumption or a guess.

20 foot wingspan. Found in ancient seabed. Teeth of a carnivore. Most of the surface of the Earth is ocean. Most birds fly over water and many of them snatch fish from the water.

What would be your guess that it ate ?

[RegulatorCountry]

I would say that it’s reasonably certain to have been a carnivore. Beyond that is guesswork.

[UCANSEE2]

Yes, and to my knowledge teeth are not necessary to scoop fish out of the ocean.

For instance, the pelican.

( maybe back then you needed that kind of teeth to catch the fish or get through it's armor)

[The Cajun]

What would be your guess that it ate ?

With those teeth, don't think it ate fruit or sucked nectar out of flowers............Just guessing :)