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Why did the argentavis Magnificens go extinct?
Argentavis was a member of an extinct group of predatory birds understandably called the teratorns – ‘monster birds’. They are related to storks and New World vultures such as turkey vultures and condors. He found that Argentavis simply couldn’t have generated enough lift from a running-take-off.
When did argentavis become extinct?
about 10,000 years ago
It seems that Argentavis went extinct about 10,000 years ago, when most of North America’s largest animals went through a period of mass extinctions.
Are argentavis Magnificens extinct?
A. magnificens, sometimes called the Giant Teratorn, is an extinct species known from three sites in the Epecuén and Andalhualá Formations in central and northwestern Argentina dating to the Late Miocene (Huayquerian), where a good sample of fossils has been obtained.
When did the Giant Teratorn go extinct?
It became extinct at the end of the Pleistocene, some 10,000 years ago.
What is the biggest extinct bird?
Vorombe titan was the largest member of the Aepyornithidae, an extinct family of giant flightless birds, and was the largest bird that ever lived.
When did argentavis Magnificens live?
The Giant Teratorn — Argentavis magnificens — was an absolutely enormous species of flying bird which lived in Argentina during the late Miocene, about six million years ago.
When did the argentavis Magnificens live?
about six million years ago
The Giant Teratorn — Argentavis magnificens — was an absolutely enormous species of flying bird which lived in Argentina during the late Miocene, about six million years ago.
What did Argentavis look like?
Argentavis had a wingspan of approximately 23 feet, a wing area of 75 square feet, and a length of about 12 feet. It weighed 150-170 pounds, which is an average weight for a human. Along with its monstrous size, it had a massive eagle-like beak which allowed it to swallow animals the size of rabbits with ease.
Can argentavis fly?
Argentavis was probably too large (mass ≈70 kg) to be capable of continuous flapping flight or standing takeoff under its own muscle power. Argentavis could take off by running downhill, or by launching from a perch to pick up flight speed.
What did the argentavis Magnificens look like?
What is the biggest flying bird to ever live?
Twenty-five million years ago, Pelagornis sandersi — the largest flying bird ever — soared on wings that could stretch from a giraffe’s head to hoofs.
What happened to Argentavis magnificens?
Of course, Argentavis suffered hardly any predation, and mortality was mainly from old age, accidents and disease. From the size and structure of its wings, it is inferred that A. magnificens flew mainly by soaring, using flapping flight only during short periods.
Is Argentavis magnificens the largest bird in the world?
Since A. magnificens is known to have been a land bird, another good point of comparison is the Andean Condor, which is not too distantly related to Argentavis. This bird is among the largest land birds, with a wingspan of about 3 m and weighing up to 12 kg.
When did the teratorn go extinct?
This bird, sometimes called the Giant Teratorn, is an extinct species known (as of 2006) from three sites from the late Miocene (6 million years before present) of central and northwestern Argentina, where a good sample of fossils has been obtained. The humerus (upper arm bone) of Argentavis is somewhat damaged.
What did the Argentavis look like?
The humerus (upper arm bone) of Argentavis is somewhat damaged. It allows a fairly accurate estimate of its length in life, which was a bit shorter than an entire human arm. The species apparently had stout, strong legs and large feet which enabled it to walk with ease. The bill was large, rather slender, and had a hooked tip with a wide gape.