Phorusrhacos Ameghino, 1887

Alvarenga, Herculano M. F. & Höfling, Elizabeth, 2003, Systematic Revision Of The Phorusrhacidae (Aves: Ralliformes), Papéis Avulsos de Zoologia 43 (4), pp. 55-91 : 71

Genus Phorusrhacos Ameghino, 1887

Phorusrhacos Ameghino, 1887:24 ; Bordkorb, 1967.

Phororhacos Ameghino, 1889:659.

Stereornis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891:21 , 45; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Darwinornis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891:26 , 60; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Owenornis Moreno & Mercerat, 1891:25, 64; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Mesembriornis Moreno, 1889:29 ; Brodkrob, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Titanornis Mercerat, 1893:5; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Callornis Ameghino, 1895:574; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Eucallornis Ameghino, 1901:78; Brodkorb, 1967 (syn. of Phorusrhacos ).

Liornis Ameghino, 1895:570; syn. nov.

Type Species – Phorusrhacos longissimus Ameghino, 1887 .

Included Species – Only the type species.

Distribution – Lower and Middle Miocene of Argentina.

Diagnosis – Of a very big build, being, however, smaller than Devincenzia . The length of the tarsometatarsus is about 70% of that of the tibiotarsus ( Figs. 20 and 21 ),

Figures

FIGURE 20. Phorusrhacos longissimus (AMNH-9146).Left tarsometatarsus from Cañon de Las Vacas, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. Dorsal view. Maximum length 362 mm, calculated at 370 mm if it were complete.

FIGURE 21. Phorusrhacos longissimus (AMNH-9497). Associated bones of the left leg, coming from Monte Leon, Province of Santa Cruz, Argentina. A - Ventral view of the tibiotarsus, lacking the proximal end. B - Dorsal view of the femur, lacking a segment of the diaphysis. C - Phalanges (also assigned to the left foot). It was based on these bones that an estimate of the total length of the femur (around 31 cm) and of the tibiotarsus (nearly 50 cm), were made.