Sander's Toothed-gull

Pelagornis sandersi

Pelagornis sandersi

“ ...as the slow sea sucked at the shore and then withdrew, leaving the strip of seaweed bare and the shingle churned, the sea birds raced and ran upon the beaches. Then that same impulse to flight seized upon them too. Crying, whistling, calling, they skimmed the placid sea and left the shore. Make haste, make speed, hurry and begone; yet where, and to what purpose? The restless urge of autumn, unsatisfying, sad, had put a spell upon them and they must flock, and wheel, and cry; they must spill themselves of motion before winter came. ”

– Daphne du Maurier

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Odontopterygiformes

Family: Pelagornithidae

Genius: †Pelagornis

Species: †Pelagornis sandersi

Descendant: Pelagornids

Named by: Dan Ksepka

Year Published: 2014

Size: 6.1–7.4 m (20–24 ft) long in length (wingspan); 3.4 m long in length (body); 1.50 cm tall in height; 400 kg in weight

Lifespan: 12 to 56+ years

Type: 

Title: 

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian

Time Period: Upper Oligocene (Chattian) ~25 Ma

Alignment: Neutral

Threat Level: ★★★★

Diet: Carnivorous 🥩🐟🥓🪲

Elements: Water, air, combat, dark

Inflicts: Waterblight, bleeding, vomitblight

Weaknesses: Earth (50% immune), electric, combat, fae

Casualties: ???

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: 

Pelagornis sandersi is an extinct species of flying bird, whose fossil remains date from 25 million years ago, during the Chattian age of the Oligocene. In this regard, it supplants the previous record holder, the also extinct Argentavis magnificens.

Etymology

The bird is named after Albert Sanders, the former curator of natural history at Charleston Museum, who led the excavation. In Greek and Latin words for pelagic bird.

Physical Appearance

Pelagornis sandersi had short, stumpy legs, and was probably able to fly only by hopping off cliff edges. It has been estimated that it was able to fly at up to 60 km/h (37 mph). According to Ksepka, P. sandersi's teeth "don’t have enamel, they don’t grow in sockets, and they aren’t lost and replaced throughout the creature’s life span. While P. sandersi's wingspan of 6.1–7.4 m (20–24 ft) is believed to be the largest known among birds, it is still far from the largest known flying animal.

Abilities

Pelagornis uses their sharp tooth-like or knob-like extensions of the bill's margin, called "pseudo-teeth," which would have enabled the living animal to better grip and grasp slippery prey and piercing unprotected parts of the body. Using the water vomiting refers to the use of emesis to defend against ingested pathogens or, in animals, against predators.


Pelagornis sandersi is a great creature for trying to get the last hit on prey, due to its exclusive ability to kill and harvest a creature in a single attack.

Weaknesses

Because of their ability to fly, ranged or magic weaponry is recommended.

Ecology

When on water, Pelagornis lands safely and becomes a fast swimmer.

Behavior

Pelagornis are naturally shy creatures that will fly away at the first sign of conflict.

Distribution and Habitat

Fossils of Pelagornis have been found in.


Tamed

Pelagornis will not eat normal raw or cooked meats, rather than eat dead fish both chick and adult only brought by a survivor.

Lore

  In 1938, the only animal was buried at the end of Chattian age at Charleston International Airport, South Carolina, discovered by James Malcom, while working construction building a new terminal there. At the time the bird lived, 25 million years ago, this area was an ocean, only certified animals buried at this airport in fact was formerly ocean. The bird is named after Albert Sanders, the former curator of natural history at Charleston Museum, who led the excavation.

Gallery

Foreign Languages

Coming soon

Trivia