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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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![Illustration of the terror bird Andalgalornis bringing its powerful beak down to kill prey.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird1_f.jpg)
The terror bird Andalgalornis brings its powerful beak down in a hatchet-like jab to kill prey.
Credit: Marcos Cenizo
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![Skull of the terror bird Andalgalornis, an extinct flightless predatory bird found in Argentina.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird2_f.jpg)
The terror bird Andalgalornis, an extinct flightless predatory bird found as a fossil in Argentina.
Credit: Witmer Lab
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![Front view of the skull of the terror bird, a six-million-year old, 4.5-feet-tall predatory bird.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird3_f.jpg)
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.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird4_f.jpg)
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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![CT scan of the skull of the terror bird where gray is the fossil and lavender is rock.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird5_f.jpg)
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.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird6_f1.gif)
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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![Images showing simulation of feeding behavior with lower stresses in blue, higher in red.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird7_f.jpg)
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.](/news/mmg/media/images/terror_bird8_f.gif)
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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