There is a new genus of dinosaur, and its name couldn’t be more apt. The Targaryendraco wiedenrothi takes its name from House Targaryen of Game of Thrones, whose members were known for their connections with dragons.
The original fossils were found in Germany in 1984 by Kurt Wiedenroth and assigned to the group pterosaurs. These are flying-based dinosaurs represented in media with long snouts and wings. But now these fossils have been reassigned to a new genus called Targaryendraco. Upon receiving this news, Game of Thrones author George R. R. Martin stated:
House Targaryen’s symbol is a three-headed dragon. The most prominent member of that House from the books and show is, of course, Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons herself. She had three dragons named Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. Paleontologist Rodrigo Pêgas said he chose the name because the dark fossils reminded him of the black bones of dragons from Game of Thrones, and because pterosaurs have inspired dragons, in a sense. In regards to Martin’s dragons having two legs instead of four, Pêgas stated:
In regards to whether or not creatures as large as the Game of Thrones dragons would be able to fly, Dr. Dave Hone explained:
