| Titanis Temporal range: Pliocene | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reconstruction of Titanis by Gabriel Ugueto | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Clade: | Dinosauria |
| Order: | Cariamiformes |
| Family: | †Phorusrhacidae |
| Genus: | †Titanis Brodkorb, 1963 |
| Type species | |
| †Titanis walleri Brodkorb, 1963 | |
Titanis ("Titan", referring to the Titans of Greek mythology) is an extinct genus of large extinct flightless carnivorous bird of the family Phorusrhacidae (alternatively known as the "Terror birds"), endemic to North America, during the Blancan Stage of the Pliocene epoch living 4.9—1.8 million years ago, and died out during the Gelasian Age of the earliest Pleistocene, existing approximately 3.1 million years. The type species is T. walleri, honoring Benjamin Walker, an amateur archaeologist that accidentally discovered the holotype.
Description[]
The holotype of Titanis consists of a tarsometatarsus and a pedal phalanx. Other fossils have been found, consisting of assorted limb bones, vertebrae, and even some parts of the skull. The skull is estimated to be 14 to 22 inches in length, being one of the largest skulls of any bird. Titanis also has a large ungal on its third toe, similar to dromaeosaurs, though it was likely not used to hunt. The wings of Titanis were once thought to be clawed and used in grasping prey, though more analysis has shown that this is false.
Being around 1.4-2 meters tall and over 300 kilograms (660 lbs), Titanis is similar in size and build to Phorusrhacos and Devincenzia, which are its closest relatives. Unlike them however, Titanis has a shorter, thicker neck, a bulkier head, and is more robust.
Paleobiology[]
Titanis may have been a pursuit hunter, as its phorusrhacid physique allows it to reach an estimated speed of up to 65 km/h (40 mph). The large lacrimal bones protected the eyes against the sun, enabling keen eyesight, and shows that Titanis likely hunted in open, sunlight plains, not shaded forests. When hunting prey, Titanis likely took down prey by subduing it with its immense beak in an up and down motion, as side to side motions would damage the beak.
Paleoecology[]
Titanis shared its habitat in Florida with creatures such as Smilodon gracilis, Teratornis, and Borophagus, along with extant animals such as white-tailed deer and capybaras. Titanis is also the only phorusrhacid to be found in North America.
In popular culture[]
- Titanis appeared in the documentary series Paleoworld.
- Titanis appeared in the show Dino Dana, the third series of the Dino Dan franchise. It is inaccurately portrayed with non avian theropod-like arms.
- Titanis appeared in the recently-made new Netflix Original Documentary Series, Life on Our Planet.
- A group of Titanis are the main antagonists of the instant hit cult classic blockbuster movie Terror Birds (2016).
- Titanis appeared in Monsters Resurrected.
Gallery[]
