Patagornis

Name: Patagornis (Patagonian bird).
Phonetic: Pat-ah-gor-niss.
Named By: Moreno and MerceratFrancisco P.‭ ‬Moreno‭ & ‬Alcides Mercerat - 1891.
Classification: Chordata, Aves, Cariamae, Phorusrhacidae, Patagornithinae.
Species: P. marshi (type).
Diet: Carnivore.
Size: Up to 1.7 meters high.
Known locations: Argentina, Santa Cruz Province.
Time period: Middle Miocene.
Fossil representation: Fossils to identify one species.

       Patagornis was the first of the Patagornithinae sub group of the phorusrhacid ‘terror birds’, and as such it was more intermediate in size. This would mean that Patagornis had no way near the size and strength of the larger members of the group, but they would have been much faster and more agile. This would have seen Patagornis focus more upon smaller and medium sized prey that could easily evade larger and less agile predators.

Further reading
- Catalogue des Oiseaux Fossiles de la Republique Argentine conserves au Musee de la Plata. - Anales del Museo de la Plata 1:1-71. - F. P. Moreno & A. Mercerat - 1891


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