Extinct Critters – Giant Teratorn
Posted by Kritter Girl on April 2, 2007
Here’s another critter from the past – the largest flying bird of prey argentavis magnificens, called the Giant Teratorn. Other names of the bird: Argentavis and Argentinian Teratorn. Personal Data:
Wingspan: 19-28 feet
Length: 3.5m (137.79 inches)
Height: 1.8-2m (70.87-78.74in., 5’9”-6’6”)
Weight: 65-100kg (143-220lbs.)
The Teratorn is an ancestor of the Giant Condor that still exists today, although it was feared it also would be extinct without human intervention.
Today, if you look to compare to the living birds and the largest wingspan, the Wandering Albatross (Diomedea exulans, 3.5m./137.79in.aprox 11.5’) would be at the top of the list. A not-to-distance relative is the Andean Condor (vultur gryphus), which is among the largest land birds with a wingspan of about three meters. Like with other extinct species, not much is known about their behavior. It is believed that they flew by soaring, depending on the wind, especially during takeoff. Having wings that were too long for flapping they had strong legs that helped them with a running or jump start to get off the ground. They are believed to have been active predators with eagle like beaks that were able to swoop down on their prey from high above, grabbing, killing and swallowing without even landing. Even though it was able to do this it probably preferred to scavenge for carrion. They covered a territory of about 500 square km (193 square miles).
When comparing to other extinct birds, it is believed that they laid one or two eggs that were about 1kg (2.2lbs.) ever two years, with incubation over the winter months. Both parents shared in the duties of incubations. The babies became independent after 16 months but weren’t fully mature until they were about 12 years old.
Mortality must have been very low, with an estimated 2% of birds dying per year being close to the maximum possible while maintaining a viable population, but Argentavis suffered hardly any predation, thus mortality was mainly from old age, accidents and diseases.<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[a]
Argentine scientists’ have unearthed the fossil remains of what seems to be the world’s largest known flying bird, Argen- tavis magnificens. The bird lived between eight and five million years ago, in the late Miocene era. With a wingspan of 25 feet, the bird measured’ 11 feet from beak to tail, and weighed in at l6 to 170 Ibs. Its first wing bone, the humerus, was approximately 22 inches long.<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[b]
Further expeditions are planned to Argentina to search for additional fossils of this most magnificent bird.<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[c]<!–[endif]–>
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<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[a]<!–[endif]–> Wikipedia
<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[b]<!–[endif]–> Bearfabrique
<!–[if !supportFootnotes]–>[c]<!–[endif]–> Sped2work
