?Phorusrhacoids Conservation status: Fossil
Drawing of Phorusrhacos longissimus, a phorusrhacoid, by Charles R. Knight
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Phorusrhacidae Ameghino, 1889
Synonyms
Phororhacosidae Ameghino, 1889 Phororhacidae Lydekker, 1893 Brontornithidae Moreno & Mercerat, 1891 Darwinornithidae Moreno & Mercerat, 1891 Stereornithidae Moreno & Mercerat, 1891 Patagornithidae Mercerat, 1897 Devincenziidae Kraglievich, 1932 Mesembriorniidae Kraglievich, 1932 Phorusrhacidae Brodkorb, 1963

Phorusrhacoids were large carnivorous flightless birds that were the dominant predators in South America during the Cenozoic, 62-2.5 million years ago. They were 1-2.5 meters tall; Titanis walleri, one of the largest species, is known from North America, marking one of the comparatively rare examples where animals that evolved in South America managed to spread north after the Isthmus of Panama landbridge formed. The ancestors of T. walleri have not been found; however, it is possible that more North American species await discovery. Only a few bones of T. walleri have been discovered at scattered locations in Florida and at a site along the Texas coast. No complete skeleton exists of North America's only known Phorusrhacoid. Image File history File links Phororhacos. ... Phorusrhacos was a genus of giant flightless predatory birds that lived in Brazil and Patagonia, containing a single species accepted to date: Phorusrhacos longissimus. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Orthonectida (parasitic to flatworms, echinoderms, etc. ... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicatas Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Many - see section below. ... Families †Gastornithidae Aramidae Psophiidae Rallidae Heliornithidae Rhynochetidae †Aptornithidae Eurypigidae Cariamidae Otidae Gruidae †Phorusrhacidae The diverse order Gruiformes contains about 12 bird families with, on first sight, little in common. ... Florentino Ameghino (September 18, 1854 – August 6, 1911) was an Argentinian naturalist, paleontologist, anthropologist and zoologist. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... In scientific classification, synonymy is the existence of multiple systematic names to label the same organism. ... Florentino Ameghino (September 18, 1854 – August 6, 1911) was an Argentinian naturalist, paleontologist, anthropologist and zoologist. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... Richard Lydekker (1849 - April 16, 1915) was an English naturalist, geologist and writer of numerous books on natural history. ... 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Dr. Francisco Pascacio Moreno (May 31, 1852–November 22, 1919) was an Argentine explorer, born in Buenos Aires. ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Dr. Francisco Pascacio Moreno (May 31, 1852–November 22, 1919) was an Argentine explorer, born in Buenos Aires. ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Dr. Francisco Pascacio Moreno (May 31, 1852–November 22, 1919) was an Argentine explorer, born in Buenos Aires. ... 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1897 (MDCCCXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link will take you to a full 1932 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... This article deals with meat-eating animals. ... The Cenozoic Era (sen-oh-ZOH-ik; sometimes Caenozoic Era in the United Kingdom) meaning new life (Greek kainos = new + zoe = life) is the most recent of the three classic geological eras. ... The Isthmus of Panama. ... Land bridge is essentially a historical term; it refers to dry land exposed during periods of low sea level (see regression), connecting what are now separate continents or islands. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

Phorusrhacoids are also known as Terror Birds, because their larger species were top-level predators and among the most fearsome carnivores of their time. Their wings had evolved to meathook-like structures that could be outstretched like arms to bring down prey in a hacking motion. They were fast runners. This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... This article deals with meat-eating animals. ...

Their closest modern-day relatives are the seriemas. Genera and species Cariama cristata Chunga burmeisteri The Seriemas are a small and ancient family of tropical South American birds, belonging to the family Cariamidae, that are related to the rails and bustards. ...

Taxonomy

Following the revision by Alvarenga and Höfling (2003), there are now 5 subfamilies, containing 13 genera and 17 species: ... In biology, a genus (plural genera) is a taxonomic grouping. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ...

• Subfamily Brontornithinae - gigantic species, standing over 2 meters high
  • Genus Brontornis
    • Brontornis burmeisteri
  • Genus Physornis
    • Physornis fortis
  • Genus Paraphysornis
    • Paraphysornis brasiliensis
• Subfamily Phorusrhacinae - gigantic species, but somewhat smaller and decidedly more nimble than the Brontornithinae
  • Genus Phorusrhacos
    • Phorusrhacos longissimus
  • Genus Devincenzia
    • Devincenzia pozzi
  • Genus Titanis
    • Titanis walleri
• Subfamily Patagornithinae - medium-sized and very nimble species, standing around 1.5 meters high
  • Genus Patagornis
    • Patagornis marshi
  • Genus Andrewsornis
    • Andrewsornis abbotti
  • Genus Andalgalornis
    • Andalgalornis steulleti
• Subfamily Psilopterinae - small species, standing 70-100 centimeters high
  • Genus Psilopterus
    • Psilopterus bachmanni
    • Psilopterus lemoinei
    • Psilopterus affinis
    • Psilopterus colzecus
  • Genus Procariama
    • Procariama simplex
  • Genus Paleopsilopterus
    • Paleopsilopterus itaboraiensis
• Subfamily Mesembriornithinae - medium-sized species, standing between 1 and 1.5 meters high
  • Genus Mesembriornis
    • Mesembriornis milneedwardsi
    • Mesembriornis incertus

Alvarenga and Höfling do not include the Ameghinornithinae and Aenigmavis sapea from Europe in the phorusrhacoids; they conclude that the former are close relatives, and the latter is of uncertain affiliation. Phorusrhacos was a genus of giant flightless predatory birds that lived in Brazil and Patagonia, containing a single species accepted to date: Phorusrhacos longissimus. ...

References

• Alvarenga, Herculano M. F. & Höfling, Elizabeth (2003): Systematic revision of the Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes). Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 43(4): 55-91 PDF fulltext

• Ameghino, F. (1889): Contribuición al conocimiento de los mamíferos fósiles de la República Argentina. Actas Academia Nacional Ciencias de Córdoba 6: 1-1028.

See also

• Chocobo

A Chocobo is a large fictional emu-like ratite first featured in the video game Final Fantasy II, and then in all subsequent installments in the Final Fantasy series plus their merchandise. ...

External links

• Hooper Museum