Phorusrhacos
Phorusrhacos | |
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Reconstructed skull, Natural History Museum, Karlsruhe
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Cariamiformes |
Family: | †Phorusrhacidae |
Subfamily: | † Phorusrhacinae
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Genus: | †Phorusrhacos Ameghino, 1887 |
Type species | |
†Phorusrhacos longissimus Ameghino, 1887
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Synonyms | |
Genus synonymy
Species synonymy
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Phorusrhacos (
Discovery and naming
Remains are known from several localities in the
The generic name is derived from Greek -φόρος, (-phoros), an element meaning "bearer" in word combinations, and ῥάκος, (rhakos), "rag" or "wrinkle", probably in reference to the wrinkled jaw surface.[3] When the original derivation was no longer understood, other translations were given, such as the literal translation of "Rag-Thief",[4] and "branch-holder" from the mistaken assumption the name had been intended to be derived from a Greek rhakis, "branch".[5] The specific name means "very long" in Latin, again in reference to the lower jaws. The holotype is the mandible, specimen MLP-118 (Museo de La Plata). In 1889 Ameghino emended the name to a more grammatically correct Phororhacos but the earlier name has priority. In 1891, it was by him recognized to be a bird.[6]
Description
Phorusrhacos had a skull nearly 65 centimetres (26 in) long, stood nearly 2.4 meters (7 ft 10 in) tall, and probably weighed nearly 130 kilograms (290 lb), as much as a male ostrich.[7][8] It had very strong legs, capable of running at high speed, stubby, flightless wings, a long neck, and a proportionately large head. This ended in a huge, hooked beak that could tear through flesh easily, or stab into prey. The lower jaw was smaller than the upper jaw. There were three toes on each of the feet, all of which were armed with sharp claws.[1]
Classification
Phorusrhacos was part of the group called the
The following cladogram follows the analysis of Degrange and colleagues, 2015:[10]
Phorusrhacidae |
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References
- ^ ISBN 0-7513-3734-X.
- ^ "Phorusrhacos". Fossilworks. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ Creisler, Ben. "Phorusrhacos "wrinkle bearer (jaw)": Etymology and Meaning". Dinosaur Mailing List.
- ^ "Phororhacos". Century Dictionary.
- ^ Lydekker, R. (1893). "On the extinct giant birds of Argentina". Ibis Series. 6 (5): 40–47.
- ^ Ameghino, F. (1891). "Mamíferos y aves fósiles argentinas. Especies nuevas, adiciones y correcciones". Revista Argentina de Historia Natural. 1: 240–259.
- ISBN 978-0253020840. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
- doi:10.1590/S0031-10492003000400001.)
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - S2CID 199094122. Retrieved 30 March 2020.)
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - S2CID 85212917.