Review of the putative Phorusrhacidae from the Cretaceous and Paleogene of Antarctica: new records of ratites and pelagornithid birds

2012/10/01 by Marcos Cenizo · 6 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · Environmental Science · #Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology #Evolution and Paleontology Studies #Ichthyology and Marine Biology

paper · doi:10.2478/v10183-012-0014-3

openalex publication_date 2012/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

Abstract : Remains referred to Phorusrhacidae from the Cretaceous and Paleogene of the Antarctic Peninsula, and mainly known through informal and succinct descriptions, are re− assigned here to other bird lineages recorded in the Antarctic continent. New records of ratites, pelagornithid birds, and penguins are added to the Upper Eocene avifauna of Sey− mour Island. Moreover, the original allocation for an alleged cursorial seriema−like bird from the Maastrichtian of Vega Island is refuted, and its affinities with foot−propelled div− ing birds are indicated. The indeterminate Pelagornithidae specimen represents the largest pseudo−toothed bird known so far. It is concluded that there is no empirical evidence for the presence of terror birds in Antarctica.

Citations

• A new Transantarctic relationship: morphological evidence for a Rheidae-Dromaiidae-Casuariidae clade (Aves, Palaeognathae, Ratitae)
• Mechanical Analysis of Feeding Behavior in the Extinct “Terror Bird” Andalgalornis steulleti (Gruiformes: Phorusrhacidae)
• A SKULL OF THE GIANT BONY‐TOOTHED BIRDDASORNIS(AVES: PELAGORNITHIDAE) FROM THE LOWER EOCENE OF THE ISLE OF SHEPPEY
• Systematic revision of the Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes)
• Osteological evidence for sister group relationship between pseudo-toothed birds (Aves: Odontopterygiformes) and waterfowls (Anseriformes)
• Revised age of the late Neogene terror bird (Titanis) in North America during the Great American Interchange

Cited by

• New mammalian and avian records from the late Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations of Seymour Island, Antarctica
• Vegaviidae, a new clade of southern diving birds that survived the K/T boundary
• The Evolution and Fossil Record of Palaeognathous Birds (Neornithes: Palaeognathae)
• An avian femur from the Late Cretaceous of Vega Island, Antarctic Peninsula: removing the record of cursorial landbirds from the Mesozoic of Antarctica
• Accipitriformes (New World Vultures, Hawks, and Allies), Falconiformes (Falcons), and Cariamiformes (Seriemas and Allies)
• Agua de la Piedra Formation [wikipedia]

Related

• New mammalian and avian records from the late Eocene La Meseta and Submeseta formations of Seymour Island, Antarctica
• An avian femur from the Late Cretaceous of Vega Island, Antarctic Peninsula: removing the record of cursorial landbirds from the Mesozoic of Antarctica
• A new Transantarctic relationship: morphological evidence for a Rheidae-Dromaiidae-Casuariidae clade (Aves, Palaeognathae, Ratitae)
• First diagnosable non‐sphenisciform bird from the early Paleocene of New Zealand
• Paleohistological Analysis of “Terror Birds” (Phorusrhacidae, Brontornithidae): Paleobiological Inferences