Paleopsilopterus

Paleopsilopterus
Temporal range: Late Paleocene-Early Eocene (Itaboraian)
~58.7–48.6 Ma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Cariamiformes
Family: ?†Phorusrhacidae
Genus: †Paleopsilopterus
Species: †P. itaboraiensis
Binomial name
Paleopsilopterus itaboraiensis
Alvarenga 1985

Paleopsilopterus is an extinct genus of giant flightless predatory birds within Cariamiformes. It is usually attributed to the subfamily Psilopterinae of the family Phorusrhacidae, or "terror birds", though doubts about such an identity have arisen multiple times.[1][2] It lived around 58.7 to 48.6 million years ago (Itaboraian) in Brazil, during the Late Paleocene to Early Eocene. The only known species is Paleopsilopterus itaboraiensis. Fossils of Paleopsilopterus have been found at São José de Itaborai in Rio de Janeiro state.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Angst, D.; Buffetaut, E.; Lécuyer, C.; Amiot, R. (2013). ""Terror Birds" (Phorusrhacidae) from the Eocene of Europe Imply Trans-Tethys Dispersal". PLoS ONE. 8 (11): e80357. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0080357. PMC 3842325. PMID 24312212.
  2. ↑ Alvarenga, HMF; Höfling, E (2003). "Systematic revision of the Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes)". Papéis Avulsos Zool. 43 (4): 55–91. doi:10.1590/s0031-10492003000400001.
  3. ↑ Paleopsilopterus at Fossilworks.org


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