Titanis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids TitanisTemporal range: Early to Late Pliocene
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Titanis
Brodkorb, 1963
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T. walleri
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| Titanis walleri Brodkorb, 1963
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Titanis was a huge bird that lived a long, long time ago. It couldn't fly! Its name means 'giant', and it truly was a giant among birds. Titanis belonged to a group called terror birds, known for being fierce hunters.
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Meet Titanis: A Giant Among Birds
Titanis walleri was a very large, flightless bird. It lived during the Pliocene epoch, which was millions of years ago. Imagine a bird taller than a person, running very fast!
What Were Terror Birds?
Titanis was part of a family of birds called Phorusrhacidae. These birds are often called "terror birds" because they were top predators. They hunted other animals for food. Terror birds were very successful hunters in South America for a long time. They were like the big cats or wolves of their time, but they were birds!
Where Did Titanis Live?
Titanis is special because it's one of the few terror birds found outside of South America. Its fossils have been found in Florida, United States. This suggests that Titanis might have traveled north from South America. Scientists believe it crossed a land bridge that formed between the two continents. This event is known as the Great American Interchange.
How Big Was Titanis?
Titanis could grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. It might have weighed around 150 kilograms (about 330 pounds). Its strong legs helped it run very fast. It had a large, hooked beak, perfect for catching and eating prey.
What Did Titanis Eat?
As a carnivore, Titanis ate meat. Scientists think it used its powerful legs to chase down prey. Then, it would use its strong beak to deliver powerful blows. It likely hunted smaller mammals and reptiles.
Images for kids
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Pierce Brodkorb with the leg bone (tarsometatarsus) of Titanis (dark) and another bird
See also
