Titanis
| Titanis Temporal range: Early to Late Pliocene
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| Reconstruction of Titanis with hypothetical wing-claws | |
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| Genus: | Titanis Brodkorb, 1963
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T. walleri Brodkorb, 1963 (type | |
Titanis (Etymology: Titanis after the titans, Ancient Greek gods that preceded the Twelve Olympians, in allusion to the bird's size) is a genus of very large predatory flightless bird. The only member species of the genus Titanis is T. walleri, named in honor of the holotype's collector, Benjamin I. Waller. It lived approximately 5-2 million years ago (Pliocene) in North America, fossil evidence having been found in Florida and Texas. From circumstantial evidence, it has been suggested that the species did not become extinct until 15,000 years ago,[1] but more precise dating by McFadden and colleagues refutes such a late date; all known Titanis fossils appear to be at least 2 million years old.[2][3] Titanis was part of the group of giant flightless birds called the Phorusrhacidae, which are nicknamed "terror birds", and represents the youngest species of the lineage. The Phorusrhacidae originated in South America; Titanis is the only known member of the branch of the group that migrated out of that continent during the Great American Interchange.
Description
It was 2.5 metres (8 feet 2 inches) tall and weighed approximately 150 kilograms (330 pounds)[citation needed], but with large variance (perhaps indicating strong sexual dimorphism).[4] Though its head has not been found, it certainly would have been large, with a huge, axe-like beak, as in its relatives. The wings were small and could not have been used for flight. The wing bones articulated in a unique joint-like structure, suggesting the digits could flex to some degree, and it has been suggested that they could have supported some type of clawed "finger", though there is no direct evidence of this.[1] Overall, it was very similar to the South American Phorusrhacos and Devincenzia, its closest relatives. Little is known of its body structure, but it seems to have been less wide-footed than Devincenzia, with a proportionally much stronger middle toe.[5] (Onactornis is now considered a junior synonym of Devincenzia).
In popular culture
The Flock, a novel by James Robert Smith published in August 2006, featured a surviving group of Titanis walleri in central Florida. Titanis will also make an appearance in the third season of the ITV science-fiction television series Primeval. These predators can be seen in Roland Emmerich's movie 10.000 BC.
References
- ^ a b 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.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|month=and|coauthors=(help) - ^ McFadden, B. (2006). "Refined age of the late Neogene terror bird (Titanis) from Florida and Texas using rare earth elements" (PDF). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26 (3): 92A (Supplement).
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ McFadden, B. (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.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Alvarenga, H. M. F. (2003). "Systematic revision of the Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes)". Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia. 43 (4): 55–91.
{{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|month=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Brodkorb, P. (1963). "A giant flightless bird from the Pleistocene of Florida" (PDF). Auk. 80 (2): 111–115.
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External links
- dinosoria.com: Titanis walleri reconstructions. Retrieved 2007-FEB-09.
- Bryner, Jeanna (2007-01-23). "Huge, Terrifying Carnivorous Bird Invaded North America Long Ago". Fox News.
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