Quetzalcoatlus northropi model next to a 1.8m man. The largest known flying animal to ever exist.

Quetzalcoatlus northropi has gained fame as a candidate for the largest flying animal ever discovered, though estimating its size has been difficult due to the fragmentary nature of its type specimen. Wingspan estimates over the years have ranged from 5.2–25.8 m (17–85 ft), though this has more recently been narrowed down to around 10–11 m (33–36 ft), based on extrapolations from more complete azhdarchids. The smaller and more complete Q. lawsoni had a wingspan of around 4.5 m (15 ft). Quetzalcoatlus' proportions were typical of azhdarchids. It possessed a very long neck and beak, shortened non-wing digits that were well adapted for terrestrial locomotion, and a very short tail