#llallawavis

[esmaniottoart]

Antediluvian Ark_Llallawavis. Pencils (2018) & Digital (2025).

Inspired by Joel Sartore's Photo Ark project.

References Degrange, Federico J.; Tambussi, Claudia P.; Taglioretti, Matías L.; Dondas, Alejandro; Scaglia, Fernando (20 March 2015). "A new Mesembriornithinae (Aves, Phorusrhacidae) provides new insights into the phylogeny and sensory capabilities of terror birds". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35 (2) e912656. Bibcode:2015JVPal..35E2656D. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.912656. hdl:11336/38650

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[paleoart]

The argentinian Llallawavis is the most complete terror bird ever found, and it gave scientists some amazing clues on their vocal capabilities.

Read more at Earth Archives.

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[eartharchives]

Terror birds had booming calls

A very well-preserved fossil from Argentina offers some clues to these incredible birds’ vocal capabilities.

The feathered predators were the bird versions of Barry White.

Image by Julio Lacerda / @paleoart

[space-drgn]

Terror birds!

On the left is Llallawavis, a smaller (4ft tall) phorusrhacid from Argentina living about 3.5 MYA. It's the most complete terror bird fossil found, and even has its voice box preserved!

On the right is Titanis, a larger (8ft tall) phorusrhacid from North America, which lived 4.9 to 1.8 MYA.

Seriemas are the closest living relatives to the phorusrhacids/terror birds, so I based the feathering off of the red-legged seriema!

[archosaurophilia]

Llallawavis scagliai, a new phorusrhachid from the middle Pliocene of Argentina--it’s the most complete phorusrhachid specimen ever discovered!