A new Mesembriornithinae (Aves, Phorusrhacidae) provides new insights into the phylogeny of phorusrhacids

DEGRANGE, F.J.; TAMBUSSI, C.P.; TAGLIORETTI, M.L.; DONDAS, A.; SCAGLIA, F.

JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

SOC VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY

Lugar: Lawrence; Año: 2015 p. 1 - 18

0272-4634

Terror birds comprise the most outstanding group of the South American Cenozoic avifauna. Considered as apex predators, their hunting skills have recently been examined, but their diversity is still unresolved. Here we report a new terror bird from the late Pliocene of Argentina, represented by the most complete articulated skeleton of one yet found. Our phylogenetic analysis placed this taxon among derived phorusrhacids (Mesembriornithinae). One of the most striking cranial features of the new species is the suppression of intracranial kinesis due to the presence of an independent ossified bone that increases the structural link between the lacrimal and jugal bar, and the absence of both palatal hinges. The new species bears ossified tracheal rings and a tracheobronchial syrinx, sclerotic ossicles to adjust the shape of the cornea during its diurnal vision, and further reveals a mean hearing sensitivity (~2300 Hz) below the average for living species. The discovery of this new species provides new insights for studying the anatomy and phylogeny of phorusrhacids and a better understanding of this group?s diversification.