Teratorns (Teratornis)
 From: http://cluster4.biosci.utexas.edu/deathvalley/Art/teratorn.htm
Like mythological beasts from some Ray Harryhousen film, these
giant vultures as a group went extinct at the end of the Pleistocene,
possibly from the reduction in large carcasses due to megafaunal
extinctions. Teratorns were related to condors, but were much larger
usually. Three species were found as fossil in the western United
States, and the above form, Merriam's teratorn (Teratornis merriami)
was distributed in California, southern Nevada, Arizona, and Florida.
It had an incredible wingspan of 11 to 14 feet. The extant California
condor (Gymnogyps californianus) has a wingspan of 9 feet. |
