New Terror Bird Species Discovered in Colombia

A significant paleontological discovery in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert has unveiled a fossilized leg bone belonging to one of the largest terror birds known, estimated to be 12 million years old. Researchers suggest that this bird, potentially a new species, could have reached heights of over 8 feet and weighed around 344 pounds, challenging previous conceptions of terror bird sizes. The fossil, initially discovered nearly two decades ago by César Perdomo, was analyzed by a team including Siobhan Cooke from Johns Hopkins University, revealing distinctive features that solidify its classification as a terror bird. This finding expands the geographic understanding of terror birds, indicating they thrived in varied environments beyond their previously known habitats in southern South America. Additionally, evidence suggests that this giant bird was likely preyed upon by a massive caiman, further illustrating the complex ecological dynamics of its time. The research highlights the importance of the La Venta fossil bed as a significant site for understanding prehistoric South American ecosystems.