Quetzalcoatlus Leaps Into the Air

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That last drawing I did of the Quetzalcoatlus was a ton of fun, but I drew it directly over a skeletal reconstruction. The result was that it was kind of staid; paleontologists use that kind of reconstruction — from one side, because it shows you the majority of the structural bones; facing left because that’s how left-brained image recognition prefers it.

But the action it’s taking — launching itself into the air — has major physical contraints. It has to be able to put its muscles where they belong. It has to line its wings up to both form an airfoil and generate thrust.

I wanted to to a more naturalistic picture. The result is this guy! They’re still facing left, because that impulse is pretty hard to deny, but I hope I’ve given them at least a little bit of desire about getting in the air.

I also gave them green ground to run across. I couldn’t help myself.

 

 

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