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Terror Birds

All articles tagged with #terror birds

science11 days ago•10 min saved

After the Dinosaurs: Giant Birds Dominate Land and Sea

After the asteroid extinction that wiped out the dinosaurs, birds filled every ecological niche across the globe: terror birds in South America hunted on powerful legs with razor beaks; Madagascar’s elephant birds grew over 3 meters tall and laid colossal eggs; Australia’s mihirungs (demon ducks) were massive herbivores; Europe and North America hosted Gastornis (Diatryma) as towering beaked giants later reinterpreted as plant-eaters; New Zealand’s moas ruled the land until humans arrived; penguins surged as ocean predators, and pelagornithids with gargantuan wingspans roamed the skies, a diverse, post-dinosaur era eventually reshaped by mammalian rivals.

via BBC Science Focus Magazine|

#demon-ducks #elephant-birds #moas

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Giant Caimans Likely Preyed on Ancient Terror Birds

Fossilized bite marks on a giant terror bird's leg suggest it was preyed upon or scavenged by a massive caiman around 12 million years ago, revealing complex predator-prey interactions in ancient South American ecosystems.

via Live Science|

#caiman #fossil-bite-marks #miocene-epoch

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Colossal 'Terror Bird' Fossil Unveils Prehistoric Predator Rivalry

A fossilized leg bone of a giant 'terror bird' discovered in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert suggests it may be the largest of its kind ever found. The 12-million-year-old bone, marked by teeth from a giant caiman, indicates these flightless predators were significant in the region's ancient ecosystem. This discovery, led by Federico J. Degrange, expands the known range of these birds, previously found mostly in southern South America, and highlights the diverse prehistoric wildlife of northern South America.

via BBC Discover Wildlife|

#colombia #fossils #miocene-epoch

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Massive 'Terror Bird' Unearthed in South America, Revealing Prehistoric Predators

Paleontologists have discovered one of the largest 'terror birds' ever found, a potential new species from a fossil site in Colombia, dating back 12 million years. This bird, standing over 8 feet tall and weighing around 344 pounds, adds to the understanding of phorusrhacids, apex predators of the Miocene era. The discovery suggests these birds thrived in diverse habitats and may have migrated northward, filling a geographical gap in their known range. The find also offers insights into predator-prey dynamics and ecological balance in ancient South American ecosystems.

via CNN|

#fossil-discovery #miocene-period #paleontology

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Ancient Crocodile Preyed on Massive 12-Foot Terror Bird

A fossilized leg of the largest known 'terror bird,' a massive flightless predator, was discovered in Colombia, revealing it was likely killed by a giant caiman 12 million years ago. This finding, published in Papers in Palaeontology, marks the first Phorusrhacid specimen found in Colombia, suggesting these birds also thrived in tropical environments. The study used 3D scans to identify puncture wounds from the caiman's teeth, providing insights into the Miocene epoch's ecology in the La Venta area, which was rich in diverse species.

via Livescience.com|

#crocodilians #fossils #miocene-epoch

science1 year ago•3 min saved

Colossal Terror Bird Fossil Unveils Ancient South American Predator

Researchers have analyzed a fossil of a giant meat-eating terror bird, potentially the largest known of its kind, from the Miocene epoch, found in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert. This discovery provides new insights into the wildlife of northern South America 12 million years ago, suggesting that these birds were significant predators in the region. The fossil, a leg bone with marks from an extinct caiman, indicates the bird's possible cause of death and highlights the diverse ecosystem of the time, which included primates and giant sloths.

via Phys.org|

#fossils #miocene-epoch #paleontology

paleontology2 years ago•3 min saved

Unearthing Argentina's Terrifying Terror Bird Footprints

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.

via Phys.org|

#argentina #footprints #paleontologists

science2 years ago•4 min saved

Unveiling the Terrifying Power of 'Terror Birds': Fossil Prints Expose Killer Claws

Newly discovered fossil footprints of terror birds, giant carnivorous birds that roamed South America between 53 million and 18,000 years ago, reveal that these avian predators used a similar hunting tactic to earlier dinosaurs like Velociraptor. The footprints suggest that terror birds balanced their weight on two toes while using a third toe to pin down their prey. The findings also indicate that terror birds were fast runners and likely used their feet to kick at and pin smaller prey, while using their large, hooked beaks to tear off pieces. The discovery challenges the perception that terror birds primarily hunted large herbivores, suggesting they also targeted smaller prey.

via National Geographic|

#fossil-prints #paleontology #prehistoric-predators