A new terror bird (Cariamiformes, Phorusrhacidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Brazil: insights into the last representatives of the family

Abstract

Terror birds comprise an iconic group of apexpredator birds from America, with a rich fossil record thatis one of the longest among birds for a Neoaves family,ranging from the middle Eocene to the latest Pleistocene.Here, we report the discovery of a new genus and speciesof Phorusrhacidae, based on an incomplete tibiotarsusrecovered from an Upper Pleistocene (25 326–25 733 cal yr BP) cave deposit in Bahia, northeastern Brazil,and previously interpreted as a New World vulture. Thepreserved morphology exhibits unique diagnostic featuresthat support the recognition of a new species belonging tothe small-size phorusrhacids, the Psilopterinae, a clade thatprobably had poor flying abilities. In addition to the systematicassignment, we discuss aspects of its palaeoecology(isotopic habitat and body mass estimate), providing newinsights into the diversity and evolutionary history of thelast known terror birds.