Aiolornis

Taxobox
name = Aiolornis incredibilis
status = fossil
fossil_range = Early Pliocene - Late Pleistocene
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Teratornithidae
genus = "Aiolornis"
genus_authority = Campbell, Scott & Springer, 1999
species = "A. incredibilis"
binomial = "Aiolornis incredibilis"
binomial_authority = (Howard, 1952)
synonyms = "Aiornis" (a very common "lapsus") "Teratornis incredibilis" Howard, 1952

"Aiolornis incredibilis" (formerly "Teratornis incredibilis"), of the teratorn family, was the largest known North American flight-capable bird, with a wingspan of up to 16 to 17 feet (about 5 meters) and a huge, deep, powerful bill. "A. incredibilis" presumably became extinct at the same time as the other megafauna in North America. It is sometimes called Giant Condor because of its resemblance to the modern-day smaller condors of California and South America, although it is not closely related. It is not well-known but is quite similar to "Teratornis merriami", although about 40% larger overall. Fossils have been found from the Early Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene in various locales in the southwestern and western-central part of the USA; it is not certain that all belong to the same species given the large time range and the scrappiness of the remains.

References

* Campbell, Kenneth E. Jr.; Scott, E. & Springer, K. B. (1999) A new genus for the Incredible Teratorn (Aves: Teratornithidae). "Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology" 89: 169–175. [http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Paleobiology/pdf_hi/SCtP-0089.pdf PDF fulltext (File size 128 MB!)]

* Howard, Hildegarde (1952): The prehistoric avifauna of Smith Creek Cave, Nevada, with a description of a new gigantic raptor. "Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci." 51: 50-54