Teratorns
Teratornithidae is an extinct family (biology), family of very large Bird of prey, birds of prey that lived in North and South America from the Oligocene, Late Oligocene to Pleistocene, Late Pleistocene. They include some of the largest known flying birds. Its members are known as teratorns. Taxonomy Teratornithidae are related to New World vultures (Cathartidae, Synonym (taxonomy), syn. Vulturidae). The fact that both of the oldest taxa in the group, ''Taubatornis'' and ''Argentavis'', originate from South America suggests that the group as a whole also evolved here, only migrating to North America in the latter part of the Cenozoic. So far, seven species in six genera have been identified: * ''Teratornis'' ** ''Teratornis merriami''. This is by far the best-known species. Over a hundred specimens have been found, mostly from the La Brea Tar Pits. It stood about tall with an estimated wingspan of , and weighed about ; making it about a third bigger than extant condors. It bec ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Teratornis
''Teratornis'' (Greek: "wonder" (teratos), "bird" (ornis)) is an extinct genus of huge North American birds of prey—the best-known of the teratorns—of which, two species are known to have existed: ''Teratornis merriami'' and ''Teratornis woodburnensis''. A large number of fossil and subfossil bones, representing more than 100 individuals, have been found in locations in California, Oregon, southern Nevada, Arizona, and Florida, though most are from the Californian La Brea Tar Pits. All remains except one Early Pleistocene partial skeleton from the Leisey Shell Pit near Charlotte Harbor, Florida (which may represent a different species or a subspecies) date from the Late Pleistocene, with the youngest remains dating from the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary. Taxonomy * ''Teratornis merriami''. This is by far the best-known and most commonly found species. Up to a hundred specimens have been found, mostly from the La Brea Tar Pits. It stood about 75 cm (29.5 in) ta ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Teratornis Merriami
''Teratornis'' (Greek: "wonder" (teratos), "bird" (ornis)) is an extinct genus of huge North American bird of prey, birds of prey—the best-known of the teratorns—of which, two species are known to have existed: ''Teratornis merriami'' and ''Teratornis woodburnensis''. A large number of fossil and subfossil bones, representing more than 100 individuals, have been found in locations in California, Oregon, southern Nevada, Arizona, and Florida, though most are from the Californian La Brea Tar Pits. All remains except one Early Pleistocene partial skeleton from the Leisey Shell Pit near Charlotte Harbor, Florida (which may represent a different species or a subspecies) date from the Late Pleistocene, with the youngest remains dating from the Pleistocene–Holocene boundary. Taxonomy * ''Teratornis merriami''. This is by far the best-known and most commonly found species. Up to a hundred specimens have been found, mostly from the La Brea Tar Pits. It stood about 75 cm (29.5 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Oscaravis
''Oscaravis'' is an extinct genus of large, predatory bird that inhabited what is now modern-day Cuba before going extinct at the end of the Pleistocene epoch. The sole species, ''Oscaravis olsoni'' (also known as the Cuban teratorn), was previously assigned to the genus ''Teratornis''. However, it has recently been granted a new genus due to its ecological isolation from others in the teratorn family, as well as differences in size and possibly behavior. Although no exact measurements can be stated, due to recent archaeological findings and the comparison of ''Oscaravis'' bone lengths with that of other teratorns, it has been concluded ''Oscaravis'' would have been larger than '' Taubatornis'' but smaller than '' Cathartornis''. Ecology ''Oscaravis'' was most prominently located in modern-day Cuba, as well as the outlying islands at the time. Due to their massive size and wingspan, it was believed that many members of the family Teratornithidae, especially ''Oscaravis'', could ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Argentavis
''Argentavis'' is an extinct genus of teratornithid known from three sites in the Epecuén and Andalhualá Formations in central and northwestern Argentina dating to the Late Miocene (Huayquerian). The type species, ''A. magnificens'', is sometimes called the giant teratorn. ''Argentavis'' was among the largest flying birds to ever exist, holding the record for heaviest flying bird, although it was surpassed in wingspan after the 2014 description of '' Pelagornis sandersi,'' which is estimated to have possessed wings some 20% longer than those of ''Argentavis''.''Argentavis'' at .org History of discovery The first remains of ''Argentavis'' were found during an exp ...[...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Bird Of Prey
Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as (although not the same as) raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively predation, hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and smaller birds). In addition to speed and strength, these predators have bird vision, keen eyesight for detecting prey from a distance or during flight, strong feet with sharp talon (anatomy), talons for grasping or killing prey, and powerful, curved beaks for tearing off flesh. Although predatory birds primarily hunt live prey, many species (such as fish eagles, vultures and condors) also scavenge and eat carrion. Although the term "bird of prey" could theoretically be taken to include all birds that actively hunt and eat other animals, ornithologists typically use the narrower definition followed in this page, excluding many piscivorous predators such as storks, Crane (bird), cranes, herons, gulls, skuas, penguins, and kingfishers, as well as many primarily insectivorous bir ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Condor
Condor is the common name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. The name derives from the Quechua language, Quechua ''kuntur''. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere. One species, the Andean condor (''Vultur gryphus''), inhabits the Andean mountains. The other, the California condor (''Gymnogyps californianus''), is currently restricted to the Pacific Coast Ranges, western coastal mountains of the contiguous United States and Mexico, as well as the northern desert mountains of Arizona. Taxonomy Condors are part of the family Cathartidae, which contains the New World vultures, whereas the 15 species of Old World vultures are in the family Accipitridae, which also includes hawks, eagles, and Kite (bird), kites. The New World and Old World vultures evolved from different ancestors. They both are carrion-eaters and the two groups are similar in appearance due to convergent evolution. Description Condors are very large, broa ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Oligocene
The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the epoch are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the epoch are slightly uncertain. The name Oligocene was coined in 1854 by the German paleontologist Heinrich Ernst Beyrich from his studies of marine beds in Belgium and Germany. The name comes from Ancient Greek (''olígos'') 'few' and (''kainós'') 'new', and refers to the sparsity of Neontology, extant forms of Mollusca, molluscs. The Oligocene is preceded by the Eocene Epoch and is followed by the Miocene Epoch. The Oligocene is the third and final epoch of the Paleogene Period. The Oligocene is often considered an important time of transition, a link between the archaic world of the tropical Eocene and the more modern ecosystems of the Miocene. Major chang ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Ecuador
Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contains the Galapagos Islands in the Pacific, about west of the mainland. The country's Capital city, capital is Quito and its largest city is Guayaquil. The land that comprises modern-day Ecuador was once home to several groups of Indigenous peoples in Ecuador, indigenous peoples that were gradually incorporated into the Inca Empire during the 15th century. The territory was Spanish colonization of the Americas, colonized by the Spanish Empire during the 16th century, achieving independence in 1820 as part of Gran Colombia, from which it emerged as a sovereign state in 1830. The legacy of both empires is reflected in Ecuador's ethnically diverse population, with most of its million people being mestizos, followed by large minorities of Europe ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
International Business Times
The ''International Business Times'' is an American online newspaper that publishes five national editions in four languages. The publication, sometimes called ''IBTimes'' or ''IBT'', offers news, opinion and editorial commentary on business and commerce. IBT is one of the world's largest online news sources, receiving forty million unique visitors each month. Its 2013 revenues were around $21 million. IBTimes editions include Australia, India, International, Singapore, United Kingdom, U.K. and United States, U.S. ''IBTimes'' was launched in 2005; it is owned by IBT Media, and was founded by Etienne Uzac and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, two followers of David Jang who also has a relationship to IBT and Newsweek. Its headquarters are in the Financial District, Manhattan, Financial District of Lower Manhattan, New York City. In 2013, it bought the struggling Newsweek magazine from Barry Diller. In 2018, IBT spun out Newsweek as an independent entity co-owned by ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Huayquerian
The Huayquerian () age is a period of geologic time (9.0–6.8 Ma) within the Late Miocene epoch of the Neogene, used more specifically within the SALMA classification. It follows the Chasicoan and precedes the Montehermosan age. Etymology The age is named after the Huayquerías Formation in the western Cuyo Basin of northwestern Argentina that was later dated to the Montehermosan The Montehermosan age is a period of geologic time (6.8–4.0 Mya (unit), Ma) within the Miocene and Pliocene epochs of the Neogene used more specifically with South American Land Mammal Ages. It follows the Huayquerian and precedes the Chapadmalal .... The most complete Huayquerian fauna is found in the Cerro Azul Formation, in Buenos Aires Province also referred to as Epecuén Formation. Formations Fossil content Correlations Notes and references Notes References Bibliography ;Huayquerías Formation * * ;Andalhuala Formation * ;Camacho Formation * * * ;Cerro A ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the northern Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean meet. Cuba is located east of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico), south of both Florida and the Bahamas, west of Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic), and north of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. Havana is the largest city and capital. Cuba is the List of countries and dependencies by population, third-most populous country in the Caribbean after Haiti and the Dominican Republic, with about 10 million inhabitants. It is the largest country in the Caribbean by area. The territory that is now Cuba was inhabited as early as the 4th millennium BC, with the Guanahatabey and Taino, Taíno peoples inhabiting the area at the time of Spanish colonization of the Americas, Spanish colonization ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
|
Early Miocene
The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to 15.97 ± 0.05 Ma (million years ago). It was preceded by the Oligocene epoch. As the climate started to get cooler, the landscape started to change. New mammals evolved to replace the extinct animals of the Oligocene epoch. The first members of the hyena and weasel family started to evolve to replace the extinct ''Hyaenodon'', entelodonts and bear-dogs. The chalicotheres survived the Oligocene epoch. A new genus of entelodont called ''Daeodon'' evolved in order to adapt to the new habitats and hunt the new prey animals of the Early Miocene epoch; it quickly became the top predator of North America. But it became extinct due to competition from ''Amphicyon'', a newcomer from Eurasia. ''Amphicyon'' bested ''Daeodon'' because the bear-dog's la ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |