Sander's Toothgull

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.

A relative of modern seagulls, Pelagornis is instantly recognizable from the more common terns and gulls by its size, than the albatross. With a wingspan rivaling Argentavis magnificens, it also possesses a beak filled with tooth-like projections for snagging fish, as well as webbed feet for paddling upon the ocean surface when it must rest its wings.

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.

In Earth Responsibly universe, Pelagornis sandersi had a fan-shaped black-tipped white tail, apricot skin on their cheeks and webbed feet, a light orange long bill with tooth-like edges and a dark gray top, hazel eyes, and white feathers with brownish gray tops and dark gray edges. This species was recorded by the proto-Isu, the godlike hominid owns the disc-like "Memory Seal Device".

Changes in 2024

• In 2024, every species of Pelagornis will be redrawn. If they survive, all of Pelagornis species transform into toothed-bill albatross-like sheathbills.

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 pierce unprotected parts of the body. Instead of being deep divers, pelagornithids were surface foragers. Extensive swimming was unlikely because of their large wings and thin bones. Like contemporary albatrosses, they most likely made a brief landing on the water.

In Earth Responsibly universe, every Pelagornis species—including their chick—projects this repulsive oil and water combination from their beaks in order to fend off predators or adversaries who mostly despise this bird. 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.

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

When on water, Pelagornis lands safely and becomes a fast swimmer. The hollow spikes on the birds' beaks allowed the predators to grab slippery squid and fish from the ocean. The majority of Pelagornis' lives were spent over the open ocean because they were pelagic. Pelagornis were able to capture fish, squid, and soft-bodied marine prey at the surface because to the pseudoteeth on their beak. Long-distance flying and surface feeding are supported by ecological reconstructions of pelagic seabirds.

Reproduction

Direct evidence is limited, but:

• As large pelagic birds, they likely nested on remote coastal cliffs or islands, similar to modern albatrosses.

• Pelagornithidae specimens show slow maturation, suggesting long growth periods similar to other large seabirds.

For the majority of the day, Pelagornis was capable of long-distance gliding and surface snatching while flying. Like huge modern seabirds, pelagornithids breed colonially and are rarely found on land other than during nesting. The pseudoteeth were used for grip rather than tearing, and there is no evidence of aggressive predation on large animals.

Pelagornis were probably shy but not dangerous, keeping a safe distance like contemporary albatrosses. They would be magnificent but vulnerable around ships due to their vast wingspan. They wouldn't be hostile to anyone and would stay away from them.

Up into the early Pleistocene, pelagornithids continued to exist. Their extinction causes are not entirely known, but potential factors include:

• Ocean productivity is changing due to global climate change.

• Competition from newly emerging modern seabirds like gannets and early albatrosses.

• Due to their large size and sluggish reproduction, they are susceptible to changes in the environment.

Their lengthy but diminishing fossil record is in line with these theories.

Pelagornis sandersi was discovered in South Carolina, USA, indicating that Oligocene North America has marine deposits throughout the region and surrounding countries. This pelagornithid lives primarily in warm, fruitful coastal seas.

• Movement Pattern: Full Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo and Gather

• Population Trend: Stable

• Population: ???

• Locomotion: Versatile

• Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Sky; Warm River; Cold River; Lukewarm River; Subterranean River; Warm Pond; Cold Pond; Aquifer; Warm Littoral; Cold Littoral; Warm Intertidal; Cold Intertidal.

• Earth: 

  • Extinct: Canada; Costa Rica; Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; United States

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

 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.

2021 Renders

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• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelagornis_sandersi

• https://www.azquotes.com/quote/472582?ref=sea-birds

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Pelagornis-sandersi-888766521

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Pelagornis-sandersi-2024-1116112120