Phorusrhacidae

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Phorusrhacids
Fossil range: Middle Paleocene - Late Pliocene
Paraphysornis.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Phorusrhacidae
Ameghino, 1889
Synonyms

see text

Phorusrhacids ("Rag-Bearers"), or terror birds, were a family of large carnivorous flightless birds that were the dominant predators in South America during the Cenozoic, 62–2 million years (Ma) ago. They were roughly 1–3 meters (3–10 feet) tall. Their closest modern-day relatives are believed to be the 0.8 m-tall seriemas. Titanis walleri, one of the larger species, is known from Texas and Florida in North America. This makes the phorusrhacids only known example of large South American predators migrating north during the Great American Interchange (which occurred after the volcanic Isthmus of Panama land bridge rose ca. 3 Ma ago). It was once believed that T. walleri only became extinct around the time of the arrival of man in North America[1], but subsequent datings of Titanis fossils have failed to provide evidence for their survival more recently than 1.8 Ma ago.[2][3]

A new specimen discovered in Patagonia in 2006 represents the largest bird skull yet found. The fossil has not been formally described but may belong to a new genus or species.[4]

Phorusrhacids are colloquially known as "terror birds", because their larger species were apex predators and the most fearsome carnivores of their habitat (before the arrival of saber-toothed cats 2.5 Ma ago). Their wings had evolved into meathook-like structures that likely could be stretched out like arms to perform a hacking motion which theoretically would help in bringing down prey. Most of the smaller and some of the larger species are believed to have been fast runners.

Contents

[edit] Systematics and taxonomy

Following the revision by Alvarenga and Höfling (2003), there are now 5 subfamilies, containing 13 genera and 17 species:

Andalgalornis.
Andalgalornis.
  • Subfamily Brontornithinae — gigantic species, standing over 2 meters high
    • Genus Brontornis (Early - Middle Miocene)
      • Brontornis burmeisteri
    • Genus Physornis (Middle - Late Oligocene of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina)
      • Physornis fortis
    • Genus Paraphysornis (Tremembé Late Oligocene/Early Miocene of São Paulo State, Brazil)
      • Paraphysornis brasiliensis
  • Subfamily Phorusrhacinae — gigantic species, but somewhat smaller and decidedly more nimble than the Brontornithinae
    • Genus Phorusrhacos (Early Miocene- Mid Miocene)
      • Phorusrhacos longissimus
    • Genus Devincenzia (Late Miocene - Early Pliocene of NE Argentina and Arroyo Roman, Uruguay)
      • Devincenzia pozzi
    • Genus Titanis (Early - Late Pliocene)
      • Titanis walleri
Titanis.
Titanis.
  • Subfamily Patagornithinae — medium-sized and very nimble species, standing around 1.5 m high
    • Genus Patagornis (Santa Cruz Early - Middle Miocene of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina) - includes Morenomerceraria[verification needed], Palaeociconia, Tolmodus
      • Patagornis marshi
    • Genus Andrewsornis (Middle - Late Oligocene of S Argentina)
      • Andrewsornis abbotti
    • Genus Andalgalornis (Late Miocene - Early Pliocene)
      • Andalgalornis steulleti
  • Subfamily Psilopterinae — small species, standing 70–100 cm high
    • Genus Psilopterus (Deseado Middle Oligocene - Arroyo Chasicó Late Miocene of S and E Argentina)
      • Psilopterus bachmanni
      • Psilopterus lemoinei
      • Psilopterus affinis
      • Psilopterus colzecus
    • Genus Procariama (Late Miocene - Early Pliocene of Catamarca Province, Argentina)
      • Procariama simplex
    • Genus Paleopsilopterus (Middle Paleocene of Itaboraí, Brazil)
      • Paleopsilopterus itaboraiensis
  • Subfamily Mesembriornithinae — medium-sized species, standing between 1 and 1.5 m high
    • Genus Mesembriornis (Late Miocene - Late Pliocene)
      • Mesembriornis milneedwardsi
      • Mesembriornis incertus

Alvarenga and Höfling do not include the Sophiornithidae from Europe in the phorusrhacoids; these have meanwhile turned out to be primitive relatives of owls (Mayr 2005).

[edit] Synonyms

The family Phorusrhacidae have been described under a number of synonyms:

  • PhororhacosidaeAmeghino, 1889
  • PelecyornidaeAmeghino, 1891
  • BrontornithidaeMoreno & Mercerat, 1891
  • DarwinornithidaeMoreno & Mercerat, 1891
  • StereornithidaeMoreno & Mercerat, 1891
  • PhororhacidaeLydekker, 1893 (unjustified emendation)
  • PatagornithidaeMercerat, 1897
  • HermosiornidaeRovereto, 1914
  • PsilopteridaeDolgopol de Saez, 1927
  • DevincenziidaeKraglievich, 1932
  • HermosiorniidaeKraglievich, 1932 (unjustified emendation)
  • MesembriorniidaeKraglievich, 1932
  • HermosiornithidaeWetmore, 1934 (unjustified emendation)

[edit] Popular Culture

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Baskin, J. A. (1995). "The giant flightless bird Titanis walleri (Aves: Phorusrhacidae) from the Pleistocene coastal plain of South Texas." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 15(4): 842-844.
  2. ^ McFadden, B., Labs-Hochstein, J., Hulbert, R.C. Jr., and Baskin, J.A. (2006). "Refined age of the late Neogene terror bird (Titanis) from Florida and Texas using rare earth elements." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 26(3): 92A (Supplement). PDF abstract
  3. ^ * McFadden, B., Labs-Hochstein, J., Hulbert, R.C. Jr., and Baskin, J.A. (2007). "Revised age of the late Neogene terror bird (Titanis) in North America during the Great American Interchange." Geology, 35(2): 123-126. doi:10.1130/G23186A.1 PDF fulltext
  4. ^ Highfield, Richard, "Hang on to your dog: meet the vicious 10ft terror bird" [1]

[edit] Further reading

[edit] External links