Phorusrhacidae Skull measures 14.1 inches. Phorusrhacidae Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw).
Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos is an extinct genus of giant flightless terror birds that inhabited South America during the Miocene epoch.
Phorusrhacos was one of the dominant land predators in South America at the time it existed. It is thought to have lived in woodlands and grasslands.
Remains are known from several localities in the Santa Cruz Formation and Monte León Formation in Santa Cruz Province, of Argentina.
Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos was also known as a terror bird. They were an apex predator in South America during the Miocene period, second only to saber-toothed cats like Smilodon.
The terror birds lived in what is now modern-day Argentina, which was part of Patagonia, the southern area of South America encompassing Argentina and Chile.
Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos beak size was sexually differentiated. Hence, males with larger beaks were more attractive to females during the mating season.
It could hear a wide range of sound frequencies and had excellent vision, but a poor sense of smell. A well-developed cerebral cortex meant it was not limited to pre-defined thought patterns and could adapt to different situations.
Not much information is known about Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos‘s reproduction and life cycle. Fossil findings show that in all stages of development, the terror birds kept their same proportions of head, beak, body, and leg size. Their eggs would have been as large as ostrich eggs, if not larger.
Phorusrhacos had a skull nearly 26 in. long, stood nearly 7 ft 10 in. to 8 ft 10 in. tall, and probably weighed nearly 290 lb.
Phorusrhacos is a genus of giant terror birds that lived in South America during the Miocene epoch. The type species of this genus is the Phorusrhacos longissimus.
Like the other terror birds from the same period, Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos bird had a large head with a massive beak that was shaped like a hook at the top, similar to modern-day birds of prey such as the eagle.
The lower jaw of this large beak was smaller than the upper jaw. Like present-day ostriches, they could not fly due to its small wing that could not support its weight in the air. The small wings had sharp claws at the end. This bird probably used it as a weapon in hunting prey and fending off other predators.
Phorusrhacidae or Phorusrhacos’s massive body was supported on long skinny legs that allowed them to run at a very high speed. They stood at about 7.8 feet to 8.9 feet tall and weighed nearly 300 pounds.
Their large head and sharp beaks gave them an intimidating appearance. The skull was nearly 25 inches in length on a very long neck. Their long, skinny legs ended in sharp talons. There were three toes on each foot, and each one had sharp talons that could dig into prey.
