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Titanis

'''''Titanis''''' (Etymology: ''Titanis'' after the Titan (mythology)|titans, Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek gods that preceded the Twelve Olympians, in allusion to the bird's size) is a genus of very large predatory flightless bird. The only member species of the genus ''Titanis'' is ''T. walleri'', named in honor of the holotype's collector, Benjamin I. Waller. It lived approximately 5-2 million years ago (Pliocene) in North America, fossil evidence having been found in Florida and Texas. From circumstantial evidence, it has been suggested that the species did not become extinct until 15,000 years ago, but more precise dating by McFadden and colleagues refutes such a late date; all known ''Titanis'' fossils appear to be at least 2 million years old. ''Titanis'' was part of the group of giant flightless birds called the Phorusrhacidae, which are nicknamed "terror birds", and represents the youngest species of the lineage. The Phorusrhacidae originated in South America; ''Titanis'' is the only known member of the branch of the group that migrated out of that continent during the Great American Interchange.

Description

It was tall and weighed approximately , but with large variance (perhaps indicating strong sexual dimorphism). Though its head has not been found, it certainly would have been large, with a huge, axe-like beak, as in its relatives. The wings were small and could not have been used for flight. The wing bones articulated in a unique joint-like structure, suggesting the digits could flex to some degree, and it has been suggested that they could have supported some type of clawed "finger", though there is no direct evidence of this. Overall, it was very similar to the South American ''Phorusrhacos'' and ''Devincenzia'', its closest relatives. Little is known of its body structure, but it seems to have been less wide-footed than ''Devincenzia'', with a proportionally much stronger middle toe. (''Onactornis'' is now considered a junior synonym of ''Devincenzia'').

In popular culture

The Flock (novel)|The Flock, a novel by James Robert Smith published in August 2006, featured a surviving group of ''Titanis walleri'' in central Florida. ''Titanis'' will also make an appearance in the third season of the ITV science-fiction television series ''Primeval''. These predators can be seen in Roland Emmerich's movie 10.000 BC.

References

External links

- dinosoria.com: ''Titanis walleri'' reconstructions. Retrieved 2007-FEB-09. * Category:Extinct flightless birds Category:genera of birds Category:Phorusrhacinae Category:Pliocene birds Category:Prehistoric birds of North America

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Sources: StartLearningNow, Wikipedia | Usage license: GNU FDL

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