Titanis (name meaning "Waller's Titan"), often called the Terror Bird, is a genus of large, carnivorous, flightless terror bird of prey that originated during the Early Pliocene epoch in what is now North America. Named after the generic titans in Greek mythology, this is the largest known member of the family as well as the largest flightless bird.
In the Series 4 episode "New Arrivals", a small pack of Titanis were brought to the park from Early Pleistocene North America 2 million years ago. They reside in the Aviary Enclosure.
Facts[]
Era and Discovery[]
It lived approximately 5 to 2 million years ago (Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene) in North America. Fossil evidence has been found in three locations in Florida and one in Texas. The Gilchrist County, Florida site dates from 3.0 to 2.9 million years ago. The Santa Fe River, where 27 of the 41 Titanis fossil specimen have been found, is located in Gilchrist County. The other locations that Titanis has been found include Port Charlotte and Inglis, Florida. Only one specimen has been found outside of Florida, and that was in the Nueces River in Texas.
Physical Attributes[]
Titanis was 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) tall and weighed approximately 150 kilograms (330 lb). When compared with other phorusrhacids, the examined material indicates a large variation in the size of Titanis, perhaps indicating strong sexual dimorphism. It had long, agile legs, and three-toed feet with long talons. It could undoubtedly run at high speeds when hunting. Though its skull has not been found, it most probably would have been large, with a huge, axe-like beak, like its relatives.
Overall, Titanis was very similar to the South American Phorusrhacos and Devincenzia, its closest relatives. However, it differs from these in having a shorter, thicker neck, and an overall more heavily built bodily structure. Little is known of its body structure, but it seems to have been less wide-footed than Devincenzia, with a proportionally much stronger middle toe.
The wings were small and could not have been used for flight. The wing bones articulated in an unusual joint-like structure, suggesting the digits could flex to some degree. It also had a relatively rigid wrist, which would not have allowed the hand to fold back against the arm to the same degree as other birds. This led R. M. Chandler to suggest that the wings may have supported some type of clawed, mobile hand similar to the hands of non-avian theropod dinosaurs, such as the dromaeosaurs (also popularly known as "raptors").
Titanis skeleton
However, it was later pointed out that this wing joint is not in fact unique, and is present in seriemas (extant members of the same order, Cariamae, to which Titanis and other phorusrhacids belonged), which do not have any specialized grasping hands.
Behavior & Traits[]
Like all terror birds, Titanis were not pushovers, even for Edward's Wolf. What is more, they could have hunted in packs or at least pairs, and on one to one, the biggest Titanis were more than a match for any Edward's Wolf. The simple truth is these became joint shareholders of the top predator niche - and would likely have just tried to avoid each other whenever and wherever possible.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Titanis is the fourth largest and one of the last prehistoric flightless birds brought to the park.
- Titanis is also the smallest terror bird to be brought to the park.
- The sound effects of Titanis are that of hawk, ostrich, and vulture sound effects.