Winged ‘Dracula’ Could Be the Largest Flying Animal Ever Found in Transylvania

An international team of researchers announced the discovery of the remains of what may be the largest flying creature ever found. Romanian paleontologist Matei Vremir was the first to stumble on the fossil, which was well preserved and embedded in the steep slope of a cliff in the historic region of Transylvania—home to the legendary Count Dracula. Scientists named the 11.5-foot-tall pterosaur, with a wingspan comparable to a bus, after that iconic figure. This winged “Dracula” lived in Transylvania long before the infamous count—about 66 million years ago, when the region had a subtropical climate.

Initially, paleontologists thought the sizable skeleton belonged to a dinosaur, as reported by IFLScience. But after a series of studies, they determined it was a pterosaur, likely a member of the Azhdarchidae family. These dragon-like animals, which roamed Earth during the late Cretaceous, are known for their enormous size.

What Else Did Scientists Discover?

The dimensions of “Dracula” raised two big questions: could it actually fly, and how did it grow so large? A new study from the University of Leicester, published in Current Biology, examined pterosaur evolution by studying fossilized wing and leg bones. The team identified a major shift in the middle Jurassic when pterosaur limb structure began to resemble that of modern terrestrial animals.

“In early pterosaurs, the hind limbs were connected by a flight membrane, which severely complicated their ability to walk and run,” said Dr. David Unwin, a co-author of the study.

In later, more advanced pterosaurs, this membrane split along the midline, allowing each hind limb to move independently. That innovation, combined with other changes in limb anatomy, greatly improved their mobility on land. “Freed from the constraints of climbing, later pterosaurs were able to grow to enormous sizes, with some species becoming true giants of the Mesozoic,” Dr. Unwin explained.

Robert Smith, the lead author of the study, says flight is only part of the pterosaurs’ story. “By studying whether they lived in trees or on the ground, we begin to understand the role they played in ancient ecosystems,” he added.