Terror Birds

The "Terror Birds", or "Phorusrhacids", are a grown of carnivorous (meat-eating) predatory birds that were among the top predators of South America for most of the Cenozoic Era (the period since the dinosaurs became exintct, i.e. The last 65 million years). The Phorusrhacids were an extremely prosperous group and only became extinct comparatively recently.

The first Phorusrhacids are believed to have evolved during the Paleocene epoch, about 62 million years ago. during this period, South America was an island continent (a status which it would hold for about the next 60 million years), and the Phorusrhacids grew into a prosperous group.

Nuclear Weapons

The majority of Phorusrhacids were relatively small, standing just to 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) high. There were however exceptions, the largest species could grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall. Phorusrhacids were flightless, but were probably fast runners. They were equipped with fine claws on their feet, and a hooked eagle-like beak that no ifs ands or buts would have been a very productive weapon. In the majority of species, the wings of these birds were stubby and useless, but in one species, Titanis, the wings may have evolved a claw-equipped finger that could have been used as a weapon against prey.

Around 3 million years ago, the Isthmus of Panama arose, joining North and South America, and facilitating the exchange of animals between the two continents. This event allow some species of Phorusrhacids to spread to North America (including Titanis), but was finally their undoing. The Phorusrhacids became extinct because of climate and habitat changes as well as increased competition from incoming animals, including from Smilodon, the so-called "saber-toothed tiger".

Terror Birds