Aiolornis

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Aiolornis incredibilis Fossil range: Early Pliocene - Late Pleistocene
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Teratornithidae Genus: Aiolornis Campbell, Scott & Springer, 1999 Species: A. incredibilis
Binomial name
Aiolornis incredibilis (Howard, 1952)
Synonyms
Aiornis (a very common lapsus) Teratornis incredibilis Howard, 1952

Aiolornis incredibilis (formerly Teratornis incredibilis), of the teratorn family, was the largest known North American flight-capable bird, with a wingspan of up to 16 to 17 feet (about 5 meters) and a huge, deep, powerful bill. A. incredibilis presumably became extinct at the same time as the other megafauna in North America. It is sometimes called Giant Condor because of its resemblance to the modern-day smaller condors of California and South America, although it is not closely related. It is not well-known but is quite similar to Teratornis merriami, although about 40% larger overall. Fossils have been found from the Early Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene in various locales in the southwestern and western-central part of the USA; it is not certain that all belong to the same species given the large time range and the scrappiness of the remains.

[edit] References

• Campbell, Kenneth E. Jr.; Scott, E. & Springer, K. B. (1999) A new genus for the Incredible Teratorn (Aves: Teratornithidae). Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology 89: 169–175. PDF fulltext (File size 128 MB!)

• Howard, Hildegarde (1952): The prehistoric avifauna of Smith Creek Cave, Nevada, with a description of a new gigantic raptor. Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 51: 50-54