Unearthing Argentina's Terrifying Terror Bird Footprints

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Source: Phys.org
Unearthing Argentina's Terrifying Terror Bird Footprints
Photo: Phys.org
TL;DR

Paleontologists in Argentina have discovered the first well-preserved footprints of Phorusrhacidae, also known as "terror birds." The footprints were made by a medium-sized bird approximately 8 million years ago and show evidence of wrinkle traces and mud cracks. The researchers suggest that the bird had a hip height of 0.81 m, weighed around 55 kg, and ran at a speed of 2.74 m/s. The footprints indicate that terror birds had developed adaptations for running quickly and killing prey, similar to Velociraptors.

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