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Kelenken is an extinct genus of giant flightless predatory birds of the family Phorusrhacidae or "terror birds".

Description[]

Reconstruccions-of-Kelenken-guillermoi-BAR-3877-11-A-Devicenzia-pozzi-MLP

Reconstructions of Kelenken guillermoi (BAR 3877-11) (A), Devicenzia pozzi (MLP 37-III-7-8) (B), and Patagornis marshi (BMNH A517) (C) in occipital (left) and lateral (right) views. FIGURE 12. Reconstruction of Kelenken guillermoi scaled for comparison to a human. Preserved bones are in white.  

Kelenken is a bird that was discovered in 1999 by Guillermo Aguirrezabala in Comallo, Argentina. This bird was one of 18 different groups of “terror birds” which lived on this planet. This bird lived during the Middle Miocene Period that extended from about 23 million to about 5 million years ago. Its name is an indigenous Native American name which means “winged deity.” These birds not only lived in Argentina but most likely lived all over South America.

These birds lived in the Middle Miocene, some 15 million years ago, in Argentina along with Argentavis. Kelenken was one of the largest carnivorous birds of all time, possibly reaching 2.28 to 2,5 meters tall and weighing around 250 kg. It was a large, flightless carnivore which probably chased down and killed its prey with several bone-shattering blows from its beak.

Another possibility is that it may have picked up its prey item, then proceeded to shake it vigorously to break its back, or simply deliver a fatal bite from its massive beak. With a skull 71 cm long (including its 45.7 cm beak), it had the largest head of any known bird. The tarsometatarsus was about 45 cm long.

Paleobiology[]

It had a heavy skull that was about 28 inches long with 18 inches of it belong to its beak. A fascinating thing about this creature’s beak is that it contained a little hook on the end of it that allowed it to eviscerate its prey. Like most birds, both ones that could fly and those who couldn’t, this bird was covered in feathers.

What is really scary about these birds is that they were carnivorous and were very good hunters. However, scientists aren’t really sure how they hunted, although they do have a couple of theories. Most likely, they chased down their prey (these birds were incapable of flight) and then used its massive skull and beak to stun it. When it was stunned, it probably then used the hook on the end of its beak to tear open its prey. Of course, that is only theory. The second theory is that they used their beaks to hold their prey while they shook them violently. This would’ve caused enough force to break their prey’s back – which would allow these birds to eat at their leisure.

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