Pelagornis sandersi (1 Viewer)

Richard Klim

-------------------------

• Jul 7, 2014

• #1

Ksepka (in press). Flight performance of the largest volant bird. PNAS. [abstract]

NESCent, 7 Jul 2014: Scientist identifies world's biggest-ever flying bird.

 

Last edited: Jul 7, 2014

Fred Ruhe

Well-known member

• Jul 7, 2014

• #2

I did not read this paper (yet), but stating that a wingspan of 6.4 m. makes Pelagornis sandersi the biggest bird is a bit controversial, at least.

Argentavis magnifiscens Campbell et Tonni, 1980 has an estimated wingspan of 7 m. and an estimated mass of 70 kg.

See: Sankar Chatterjee, R. Jack Templin et Kenneth E. Campbell, Jr., 2007
The aerodynamics of Argentavis, the world’s largest flying bird from the Miocene of Argentina
PNAS 104: 12398–12403

pdf: http://www.pnas.org/content/104/30/12398.full.pdf+html

Have fun,

Fred

 

Melanie

Well-known member

• Jul 8, 2014

• #3

Some media state 22 to 24 feet which is rather close to 7 m. And the 7 m wingspan of Argentavis is still a matter of speculation.

 

Fred Ruhe

Well-known member

• Jul 8, 2014

• #4

Melanie said:

Some media state 22 to 24 feet which is rather close to 7 m. And the 7 m wingspan of Argentavis is still a matter of speculation.

Click to expand...

I still did not read the paper, as I don't have it, I would appreciate it if somebody could send it to me. Wikipedia states that the wingspan is of Pelagornis sandersi is 20-24 feet (6,1-7,4 m.). As far as I have seen so far, Ksepka only had a right femur and calculated the wingspand by using the ratio's of the wings of related species. So it is not that he was able to measure it directly.

Still according to Wikipedia it weighted between 48 and 88 pounds (22 - 40 kg.). Argentavis magnifiscens had an estimated mass of 70 kg. (allmost twice as much). So I still think that to state Pelagornis sandersi was the biggest bird is at least controversial.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 8, 2014

• #5

PNAS does provide free access, see http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/07/02/1320297111.full.pdf+html?with-ds=yes

Niels

 

Melanie

Well-known member

• Jul 8, 2014

• #6

njlarsen said:

PNAS does provide free access, see http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/07/02/1320297111.full.pdf+html?with-ds=yes

Niels

Click to expand...

Sorry, this article is only accessable to subscribers.

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 8, 2014

• #7

I did not know I was a subscriber ...

Niels

 

l_raty

laurent raty

• Jul 10, 2014

• #8

njlarsen said:

I did not know I was a subscriber ...

Click to expand...

Not a subscriber, but you have presumably access because of this: http://www.pnas.org/site/aboutpnas/developingcountries.xhtml

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 10, 2014

• #9

That could very well be, Dominica is listed on that page.

Niels

 

firstreesjohn

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2014

• #10

“I can’t say I feel too forlorn
At th’extinction of the Pelagorn.
But, to see this giant gannet
Off Portland, or Thanet,
Would anyone’s tick list adorn.”

 

Fred Ruhe

Well-known member

• Jun 16, 2016

• #11

A nice video from a flying Pelagornis sandersi is on http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/v...of-all-time-stayed-airborne/49367?an=featured

Rnjoy,

Fred