Patagornis

Pat-ah-gor-niss.
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Liam Carter

Paleoanthropologist

Liam Carter explores the roots of humanity by studying early human fossils and artifacts. His ground-breaking work has provided a deeper understanding of our ancestors' lifestyles and social structures.

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Name

Patagornis (Patagonian bird).

Phonetic

Pat-ah-gor-niss.

Named By

Moreno and MerceratFrancisco P.‭ ‬Moreno‭ & ‬Alcides Mercerat - 1891.

Classification

Chordata, Aves, Cariamae, Phorusrhacidae, Patagornithinae.

Diet

Carnivore.

Species

P. marshi

Size

Up to 1.7 meters high.

Known locations

Argentina, Santa Cruz Province.

Time Period

Middle Miocene.

Fossil representation

Fossils to identify one species.

In Depth

       Patagornis was the first of the Patagornithinae sub group of the phorusrhacid ‘terror birds’, and as such it was more intermediate in size. This would mean that Patagornis had no way near the size and strength of the larger members of the group, but they would have been much faster and more agile. This would have seen Patagornis focus more upon smaller and medium sized prey that could easily evade larger and less agile predators.

Further Reading

Further reading- Catalogue des Oiseaux Fossiles de la Republique Argentine conserves au Musee de la Plata. – Anales del Museo de la Plata 1:1-71. – F. P. Moreno & A. Mercerat – 1891

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT