I-Demystified: Isilwane esikhulu kunazo zonke ezindizayo emhlabeni – iQuetzalcatlus.

Uma sikhuluma ngesilwane esikhulu kunazo zonke ezake zaba khona emhlabeni, wonke umuntu uyazi ukuthi yi-blue whale, kodwa kuthiwani ngesilwane esikhulu kunazo zonke ezindizayo? Cabanga ngesidalwa esihlaba umxhwele nesesabekayo esizulazula exhaphozini eminyakeni engaba yizigidi ezingu-70 edlule, i-Pterosauria ecishe ibe amamitha angu-4 ubude eyaziwa ngokuthi i-Quetzalcatlus, engowomndeni wakwa-Azhdarchidae. Amaphiko ayo angafinyelela amamitha angu-12 ubude, futhi inomlomo ongamamitha amathathu ubude. Inesisindo esingangesigamu sethani. Yebo, i-Quetzalcatlus iyisilwane esikhulu kunazo zonke ezindizayo esaziwayo emhlabeni.

Igama lohlobo lwe-I-Quetzalcatluslivela kuQuetzalcoatl, uNkulunkulu weNyoka Enezimpaphe empucukweni yama-Aztec.

I-Quetzalcatlus ngokuqinisekile yayiphila ngamandla amakhulu ngaleso sikhathi. Empeleni, i-Tyrannosaurus Rex encane yayingenakho ukumelana nhlobo lapho ihlangana ne-Quetzalcatlus. Ine-metabolism esheshayo futhi idinga ukudla njalo. Ngenxa yokuthi umzimba wayo ulula, idinga amaprotheni amaningi ukuze ibe namandla. I-Tyrannosaurus rex encane enesisindo esingaphansi kwamakhilogremu angu-300 ingabhekwa njengokudla kwayo. Le Pterosauria yayinamaphiko amakhulu, okwenza ukuba ifanelekele ukushelela ibanga elide.

I-fossil yokuqala ye-Quetzalcatlus yatholakala eBig Bend National Park eTexas ngo-1971 nguDouglas A. Lawson. Lesi sibonelo sasihlanganisa iphiko elingaphelele (eliqukethe umlenze wangaphambili onomunwe wesine onwetshiwe), lapho ububanzi bamaphiko bucatshangwa ukuthi budlula amamitha ayi-10. I-Pterosauria yayiyizilwane zokuqala ezathuthukisa ikhono elinamandla lokundiza zilandela izinambuzane. I-Quetzalcatlus yayine-sternum enkulu, lapho imisipha yokundiza yayinamathele khona, inkulu kakhulu kunemisipha yezinyoni namalulwane. Ngakho-ke akungabazeki ukuthi “izindiza” ezinhle kakhulu.

Umkhawulo omkhulu wamaphiko e-Quetzalcatlus usaphikiswana ngawo, futhi lokhu kuphinde kwavusa impikiswano mayelana nomkhawulo omkhulu wesakhiwo sokundiza kwezilwane.

Kunemibono eminingi ehlukene ngendlela yokuphila kwe-Quetzalcatlus. Ngenxa yomgogodla wayo omude wesibeletho kanye nemihlathi emide engenamazinyo, kungenzeka ukuthi yayizingela izinhlanzi ngendlela efana ne-heron, i-carrion efana ne-bald stork, noma i-gull yesimanje enomlomo wesikele.

Kucatshangwa ukuthi iQuetzalcatlus indiza ngamandla ayo, kodwa uma isisemoyeni ingase ichithe isikhathi esiningi indiza.

IQuetzalcatlus yaphila esikhathini sokuphela kweCretaceous, cishe eminyakeni eyizigidi ezingu-70 edlule kuya eminyakeni eyizigidi ezingu-65.5 edlule. Yanyamalala kanye nama-dinosaur emcimbini wokuphela kweCretaceous-Tertiary.

Iwebhusayithi esemthethweni ye-Kawah Dinosaur:www.kawahdinosaur.com