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Палеонтологи обнаружили останки самой крупной в истории “птицы ужаса”

Paleontologists Unearth Remains of Largest-Ever 'Terror Bird'

AncientApex Predator Roamed South America Millions of Years Ago

Massive Biped Weighed Over 1,000 Pounds

A team of paleontologists has discovered the fossilized remains of the largest-ever known “terror bird,” a flightless predator that roamed South America millions of years ago. The colossal bird, named Patagornis ultima, weighed over 1,000 pounds and stood over 10 feet tall.

The discovery was made in Argentina's Chubut Province, where researchers unearthed a nearly complete skeleton of the bird. The bones were so large that they initially thought they belonged to a dinosaur. However, further analysis revealed that they belonged to a member of the Phorusrhacidae family, known as “terror birds.”

Terror birds were flightless carnivores that lived in South America from the Paleocene to the Pliocene epochs, from about 62 million to 2.5 million years ago. They were characterized by their massive size, powerful beaks, and long, sharp claws. Patagornis ultima was the largest of all known terror birds, and its remains suggest that it was an apex predator that dominated the ecosystem of its time.

The discovery of Patagornis ultima sheds new light on the evolution of terror birds and the ecosystems of prehistoric South America. It also provides further evidence of the incredible diversity of life that existed during the Cenozoic Era.