Hatzegopteryx had a short neck?

[suspsy]

Mark Witton thinks so. The beloved CollectA Hatzegopteryx figure may be in danger of becoming obsolete.

https://peerj.com/articles/2908/

[ceratopsian]

I saw this earlier news this morning and was surprised.  I guess it might mean an opportunity for a new model based on the alternative interpretation!

[Derek.McManus]

It seems scientific progress is once again rendering popular interpretations potentially invalid.

[suspsy]

I really like the idea that giant pterosaurs were the apex predators on Late Cretaceous islands instead of theropods.

[ITdactyl]

Interesting.  So the relatively short neck of the Colorata and CollectA (Quetz)figures effectively make them closer to Hatzegopteryx than Quetzalcoatlus itself.

Nice.

[BlueKrono]

I really like the idea that giant pterosaurs were the apex predators on Late Cretaceous islands instead of theropods.

Kinda like how giant reptiles are the apex predators on certain modern day islands.

[spinosaurus1]

finally, a proper hatzegopteryx skeletal

[CityRaptor]

That is still not what I would call a short neck. Compared with relatives? Yes. Overall? Not.

[Soopairik]

That is still not what I would call a short neck. Compared with relatives? Yes. Overall? Not.

^Yup, basically what CityRaptor said.

[suspsy]

And here's Mark Witton's blog post on the topic:
http://markwitton-com.blogspot.ca/2017/01/new-paper-when-short-necked-giant.html?m=1