Once upon a time in North America — 77 million years ago — flew the "Frozen dragon of the north wind"

Above and below, an artist's conception of Cryodrakon boreas (Greek for the moniker in the headline), a new species of pterosaur just identified in what is now called Alberta, Canada.

It could reach up to 13 feet tall with a wingspan of 30 feet, making it one of the largest flying animals ever.

"Like other pterosaurs, Cryodrakon had awkward proportions, with a long neck, huge wings, and a slender head about 3.5 times the  length of its body."

Since it was unable to chew, its diet consisted of whole lizards, mammals, and baby dinosaurs.

Read the study in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology here.

[via the Washington Post]