Andalgalornis steulleti

3D Model

Mechanical Analysis of Feeding Behavior in the Extinct “Terror Bird” Andalgalornis steulleti (Gruiformes: Phorusrhacidae)

Federico J. Degrange , Claudia P. Tambussi, Karen Moreno, Lawrence M. Witmer, Stephen Wroe

ased on computed tomographic (CT) scanning and morphological analysis, the skull of Andalgalornis steulleti is interpreted as showing features reflecting loss of intracranial immobility. Discrete anatomical attributes permitting such cranial kinesis are widespread phorusrhacids outgroups, but this is the first clear evidence of loss of cranial kinesis in a gruiform bird and may be among the best documented cases among all birds.

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0011856