Largest 'Terror Bird' Fossil Discovered in Colombia

A newly identified fossil suggests the existence of the largest known member of the Phorusrhacid family, revealing insights into the ancient ecosystems of South America.

The fossil, a leg bone found in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert, indicates a bird over 3 meters tall, potentially 5-20% larger than previous specimens.
These 'terror birds' were apex predators during the Miocene epoch, around 12 million years ago, and lived alongside giant sloths and glyptodonts.
The fossil shows teeth marks likely from Purussaurus, a massive caiman, suggesting the bird may have been prey to this ancient crocodilian.
This discovery expands the known range of Phorusrhacids, previously found mainly in southern South America, to the northern regions of the continent.
The study highlights the unique ecosystems of pre-Panama land bridge South America, where these giant birds thrived before the arrival of new mammalian predators.