Flight performance of the largest volant bird.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Ksepka DT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4115518 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Flight performance of the largest volant bird.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20140707 29
Pelagornithidae is an extinct clade of birds characterized by bizarre tooth-like bony projections of the jaws. Here, the flight capabilities of pelagornithids are explored based on data from a species with the largest reported wingspan among birds. Pelagornis sandersi sp. nov. is represented by a skull and substantial postcranial material. Conservative wingspan estimates (∼6.4 m) exceed theoretical maximums based on extant soaring birds. Modeled flight properties indicate that lift:drag ratios a ...[more]
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