Phorusrhacoid fossil found in Africa!

Adam Khor · 30-08-2011 11:02pm #1

Phorusrhacoids (terror birds) were only known from South America until now (except for Titanis which is known to have migrated to North America). Now, a fossil femur with "all the morphological features of the Phorusrhacoidea" has been found in Algeria, suggesting a wider early distribution for the group (the fossil dates back to the Eocene).

http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=2p102j3676418901&size=largest

(Pic below is of Titanis, the North American terror bird- also one of the largest).

Galvasean · 30-08-2011 11:42pm

I recall reading in Scientific American magazine that some phorusrhacid remains were found in Antarctica.

Adam Khor · 30-08-2011 11:47pm

Galvasean wrote: »

I recall reading in Scientific American magazine that some phorusrhacid remains were found in Antarctica.

Oh yes, you are right

My mistake.

Galvasean · 30-08-2011 11:57pm

I have the issue at home somewhere. I'll have to dig it up. IIRC it was an isolated half a lower jaw.

Adam Khor · 31-08-2011 12:43am

Galvasean wrote: »

I have the issue at home somewhere. I'll have to dig it up. IIRC it was an isolated half a lower jaw.

You remember well... I just checked my personal database XD It was also from the Eocene, like the one from Africa

Rubecula · 01-09-2011 1:11am

I wonder how early these things actually evolved then?

Adam Khor · 01-09-2011 11:29pm

Rubecula wrote: »

I wonder how early these things actually evolved then?

Supossedly they were around since the Paleocene, but, who knows, maybe their ancestors (flying ones, perhaps?) were already around in the latest Cretaceous?

Adam Khor · 04-09-2011 9:19pm

The bird already has a name: Lavocatavis africana.

Phorusrhacoid fossil found in Africa!

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