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News Release 10-145
Ancient "Terror Bird" Used Powerful Beak to Jab Like Boxer
Researchers use computer modeling to reconstruct kills of prehistoric predator
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The terror bird Andalgalornis brings its powerful beak down in a hatchet-like jab to kill prey.
Credit: Marcos Cenizo
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The terror bird Andalgalornis, an extinct flightless predatory bird found as a fossil in Argentina.
Credit: Witmer Lab
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Eye-to-eye with the terror bird, a six-million-year old, 4.5-feet-tall fossil predatory bird.
Credit: Witmer Lab
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Fossil skull of the terror bird compared with the skull of a modern-day golden eagle for scale.
Credit: Witmer Lab
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Skull of the terror bird, based on a CT scan. Gray is the fossil; lavender is rock.
Credit: Witmer Lab
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Simulation of stresses in the skull of the terror bird that occur when biting into prey.
Credit: Museo de La Plata and University of New South Wales
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Each image is a simulation of feeding behavior; lower stresses are in blue, higher in red.
Credit: Museo de La Plata and University of New South Wales
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Simulation of stresses that happen when holding onto prey with the beak tip and pulling back.
Credit: Museo de La Plata and University of New South Wales
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