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Terror Birds; Phorusracids, back in the future?
Topic Started: Sep 11 2008, 07:27 AM (3,947 Views)
Spartan Delta
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Um, I should ask...
...Aside from "the Future is Wild", are there any other chances of the Phorusracids re-evolving?
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Carlos
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Caracaras are really just a primitive linage of falcons, whose ancestors probably diverged before the evolution of fast aerial forms.

I think Darren Nash once suggested that caracaras and falcons actualy belong to a south american linage of birds, which also includes seriemas, hoatzins, terror birds, new world vultures and turacos; that makes sense, since not only falconids don't seem to be truly related to other birds of prey, but they also appeared in South America/Africa and later spread across the world. Of course, this theory doesn't seem so likely any more, as most of the birds said to belong to this south american clade are actually hardly related to each other. Falcons, though still remain too different from the other diurnal birds of prey to be classified in the same order as them.
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Giant Blue Anteater
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Paleognath
Sep 11 2008, 03:23 PM
Owls, caracaras, secretary birds, etc. are the best candidates as far as your predatory birds.
I just wonder what a terror-owl would look like... ;)
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Spartan Delta
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Yeah. I'm just wondering if we'd ever see a re-evolved dromaeosaur, because these phorusracids seem to have many of the basic blueprints.
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Carlos
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No, because the avian beak cannot be lost, nor can the bony tail redevelop; naturally, neither of this wouldn't reevolve in a bird, but with genetic manipulation...

However, avancna did on Deviant Art designs of flying lizards with feather like scales that resemble early flying/gliding dromeosaurids like Rahonavis. Since those belong to Tlanaquaru (a planet he made up; animals there evolved in a way that they resemble Earth's ones), however, I don't know if flying lizards could evolve on Earth
Edited by Carlos, Sep 20 2008, 12:21 PM.
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

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leptonosoma
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Spartan Delta
Sep 11 2008, 07:27 AM
Um, I should ask...
...Aside from "the Future is Wild", are there any other chances of the Phorusracids re-evolving?
Maybe not the Phorusracids specifically, but yes, some birds can evolve parallel to their lifestyle and anatomy. I have several on my website.
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A carnivorous parrot would be scary, and is definitely possible. The Kea is already most of the way there - it's an omnivore, but will attack fairly large animals (including, occasionally, sheep!) It's a vulnerable species, so it might not have descendants, but another might evolve...

Also, if a Kea-analogue evolved from something like an African Gray, it might become very, very intelligent... Sapient terror birds?
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The Chieftain
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Spaient terror bird = terrifying. But do the parrots have enough intelligence to become sapient?
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Black_Panther
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The Chieftain
Sep 21 2008, 06:08 AM
Spaient terror bird = terrifying. But do the parrots have enough intelligence to become sapient?
It's either them or crows.
I remember the Crow (corvus corax) being called the most intelligent bird actually. Sapient, phorusracid-like crows are actually terryfing. Perhaps parrots will turn into massive, titanis-like birds while Crows turn into secretary bird-like forms?
Anyway, a sapient terror bird descendant from crows or parrots will be a really terrifying sight to behold. Imagine them hunting in packs...
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Carlos
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I'm not afraid of birds actually. I know I should, but birds and mammals can't scare me. A feather-less dinosaur, on the other hand...
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

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ATEK Azul
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what about carnivorous ostriches or one of there relatives
I am dyslexic, please ignore the typo's!
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Cynovolans
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Ostriches wouldn't make great hunters. Their beak can't be used as an extremely deadly weapon unless you just let it peck you to death, and their legs are not that good at stomping their prey to death.
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leptonosoma
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JohnFaa
Sep 21 2008, 04:52 PM
I'm not afraid of birds actually. I know I should, but birds and mammals can't scare me. A feather-less dinosaur, on the other hand...
Shoot! Some of my flightless predatory birds on my site even scare me, and I drew them!
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truteal
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JohnFaa
Sep 11 2008, 03:19 PM
I don't think eagles could become fast, flightless predators; their feet anatomy is too adapted to be used as killing weapons, so I really doubt they could develop feet usefull for running. Owls, on the other hand...
this is a crazy idea, but maybe they could use their wings to walk (like a nightstalker)
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Carlos
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No offense, but thats completly stupid. Specially because birds usually can only move their wings up and down, not to the front nor to the back, like it would be required
Lemuria:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/topic/5724950/

Terra Alternativa:
http://s1.zetaboards.com/Conceptual_Evolution/forum/460637/

My Patreon:

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Spartan Delta
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I was actually referring to "the claw". The beak's pretty much stuck, but what about the killer foot claw?
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