Argentavis magnificens

Argentavis magnificens is one of the two largest flying birds ever discovered.[1] This bird, sometimes called the giant teratorn, is an extinct species. It has been found at three sites from the late Miocene of central and northwestern Argentina. A good sample of fossils has been found.[2]

Argentavis
Temporal range: late Miocene, 8–6 mya
Reconstruction of A. magnificens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Incertae sedis (disputed)
Family:
Genus:
Argentavis
Binomial name
Argentavis magnificens
Campbell & Tonni, 1980

Estimates:

  • Wingspan: about 7 m (23 ft)[3]
  • Wing area: 8.11 m² (87.3 ft²)[3]
  • Wing loading: 84.6 N/m²[3]
  • Body length: 1.26 m (4.1 ft)[3]
  • Height: 1.7–2 m (5.6–6.6 ft)
  • Mass: 70–72 kg (154–171.6 lb)[3][4]

References

  1. The other is Pelagornis.
  2. Ancient American bird was glider. BBC, 2007-JUL-02. Retrieved 2008-JAN-14
  3. Chatterjee S; Templin R.J. & Campbell K.E. 2007 (2007). "The aerodynamics of Argentavis, the world's largest flying bird from the Miocene of Argentina". PNAS. 104 (30): 12398–12403. doi:10.1073/pnas.0702040104. PMC 1906724. PMID 17609382.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. Teratorns Archived 2013-11-11 at the Wayback Machine. Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County.


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