Description
Terror inducing flightless bird.
Phorusrhacos longissimus (pronounced FOR-rus-RAH-kos) is an extinct, giant flightless predatory bird that lived in Miocene Patagonia. P. longissimus’ closest living relatives are the much smaller seriemas. It is thought to have lived in woodlands and grasslands.
Phorusrhacos grew up to 2.5 metres (8.2?ft) tall and weighed approximately 130 kilograms (290lb). They had enormous skulls up to sixty centimetres (24in) long, armed with powerful, hook-tipped beaks. The structure of the beak and the large claws on the toes show that they were carnivorous.