Argentavis

• South America

Argentavis magnificens is an extinct bird that resembled today's vultures. He lived in the late Miocene ( 5-8 million years ago) in South America. It is, according to current knowledge about the largest flying bird that ever lived.

Description

Argentavis magnificens resembled how well all members of the family, outwardly most likely a giant vulture. The bird was standing about 1.5 meters high, the span was 7 to 7.5 meters, weight about 72 kg. The beak resembled those of today's birds of prey, however, was approximately 28 cm in length about 4 times as large as the largest extant bird of prey species.

Among the extant birds, the wandering albatross with up to 3.5 m, the largest span, followed by the condor with a little more than 3 meters wingspan. The heaviest flightless birds today can weigh up to 20 kg such as the kori bustards.

Way of life

From the size and structure of the wing is concluded that Argentavis magnificens a glider was much like modern vultures who used rarely active wing beats. The emergence of this giant was probably only in the resistant and very strong westerly winds in the Southern Cone possible, which enabled him flying up and the flight with very little energy. Presumably, he supported himself as the other representatives of the family as scavengers of the mammals of the South American plains and savannas.

The (1983 ) held hypothesis of Campbell & Tonni that A. magnificens rather live prey captured by rabbit size and not lived primarily on carrion, was rejected by Feduccia (1996).

Birds of prey that feed on smaller mammals agile, can not develop into giant forms, since this size is incompatible with the need for hunting mammals such agility. This is especially true for the giant A. magnificens who could get off the ground only because of the strong westerly winds with high probability. The huge bill would be unnecessarily large for the consumption of small mammals, but provided a good fit to the use of large Aasmengen in a short time dar.

Fossil documentation

Argentavis magnificens has been found only once in the late Miocene deposits in what is now Argentina (37 ° S). Other sources, however, indicate on four discoveries in Argentina: 1st & 2nd Andalhuala Formation, near Catamarca in Valle de Santa Maria, foothills of the Andes 3 Epecuen Formation, Salinas Grandes de Hidalgo Carhué 4 in the Argentine Pampas.

System

The species is associated with the Teratornithidae family.