Terror birds on the run: a mechanical model to estimate its maximum running speed

Abstract

‘Terror bird’ is a common name for the family Phorusrhacidae. These large terrestrial birds were probably the dominant carnivores on the South American continent from the Middle Palaeocene to the Pliocene–Pleistocene limit. Here we use a mechanical model based on tibiotarsal strength to estimate maximum running speeds of three species of terror birds:Mesembriornis milneedwardsi,Patagornis marshiand a specimen of Phorusrhacinae gen. The model is proved on three living large terrestrial bird species. On the basis of the tibiotarsal strength we propose thatMesembriorniscould have used its legs to break long bones and access their marrow.