Kelenken

Kelenken Temporal range: 15Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Early Miocene
Restoration
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Cariamiformes
Family:	Phorusrhacidae
Genus:	Kelenken Bertelli et al., 2007
Species:	K. guillermoi
Binomial name
Kelenken guillermoi Bertelli et al., 2007

Kelenken guillermoi is an giant flightless predatory bird of the extinct family Phorusrhacidae or "terror birds".

Kelenken (dark green) compared to other predators.

K. guillermoi lived in the Langhian stage of the Miocene, some 15 million years ago, in Argentina along with Argentavis. With a skull 28 inches (71 cm) long (including its 18 inch, 45.7 cm beak), it had the largest head of any known bird. It is the largest species of phorusrhacid. The tarsometatarsus was about 45 cm long.^[1]

Diet

It is not entirely clear how Kelenken captured and killed its prey. As a large flightless carnivore, Kelenken likely chased down and killed its prey with several bone-shattering blows from its massive beak. Another possibility is that it may have picked up its prey item, then proceeded to shake it vigorously in order break its back. It is also possible that Kelenken may have been a scavenger, driving off other predators from their kills with its impressive size.

References