Giant Teratorn

Argentavis magnificens

Giant Teratorn

“ You cannot fly like an eagle with the wings of a wren. ”

– William Henry Hudson

Scientific Taxonomy & Character Information

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Cathartiformes

Family: †Teratornithidae

Genus: †Argentavis

Species: †Argentavis magnificens

Descendant: Teratornithids

Named by: Kenneth E. Campbell, JR & Eduardo P. Tonni

Year Published: 1758

Size: to 7.5 to 8 m (24 ft 7 in to 26 ft 3 in), estimates the wingspan more likely in the range of 5.09 to 6.5 m (16 ft 8 in to 21 ft 4 in), weight in 70 to 72 kg (154 to 159 lb)

Lifespan: 60+ years

Type: 

Title: 

Pantheon: Terran/Gaian

Time Period: Late Miocene (Huayquerian) ~9.0–6.8 Ma 

Alignment: Neutral

Threat Level: ★★★

Diet: Carnivorous 🥩🐟

Elements: Air

Inflicts: Airblight, bleeding

Weaknesses: Electric, nature, earth (50% immune), light, fae

Casualties: n/a

Based On: itself

Conservation Status: 

Argentavis magnificens is one of the extinct species of teratorn, the largest known flying bird until Pelagornis sandersi was found in South America during the Late Miocene.

Etymology

In TROQA saga, Argentavis' common names were used by Spanish people as Angundor, in French people as Angondor, Quechua people as Anquntur (corrupted as "kuntur"), Aymaras as Allaqamariu (both Alaxpacha and Allqamari), and Haitian people as Chelgua.

Physical Appearance

The Argentavis magnificens apparently had a stout, fleshy head, sturdy scales on its feet, strong legs, and large feet, which enabled it to walk with ease and with hooked claws. The bill was large, rather slender, and had a hooked tip with a wide gape. Their feathers are possibly not related to condors. 😢


Argentavis wingspan estimates varied widely depending on the method used for scaling, i.e., regression analyses or comparisons with the California condor. At one time, wingspans were published for the species up to 7.5 to 8 m (24 ft 7 in to 26 ft 3 in), but more recent estimates put the wingspan more likely in the range of 5.09 to 6.5 m (16 ft 8 in to 21 ft 4 in). Whether this span could have reached 7 m (23 ft 0 in) appears uncertain, per modern authorities.


At the time of description, Argentavis was the largest winged bird known to exist but is now known to have been exceeded by another extinct species, Pelagornis sandersi, described in 2014 as having a typical wingspan of 7 to 7.4 m (23 ft 0 in to 24 ft 3 in).

Abilities

Argentavis seem to depend on vision for this, but they are either exceptionally nearsighted for a predatory bird or they hunt only when it is very convenient for them, as they only strike living things when they are almost directly above them. However, once they settle on a target, they are hard to stop and will pursue players far into the distance if they approach too closely. Argentavis would have likely dove from a great height to seize their prey, which they could typically seize by the bill, kill, and swallow without coming to rest. They might have, meanwhile, also been lying in wait from a ground location, which would have kept them firmly planted until strong winds let them to soar.

Ecology

Argentavis' territories measured probably more than 500 square kilometres (190 sq mi), which the birds screened for food, possibly utilizing a generally north–south direction to avoid being slowed by adverse winds. This species seems less aerodynamically suited for predation than its relatives. It probably preferred to scavenge for carrion, and it is possible that it habitually chased metatherian carnivores such as Thylacosmilidae from their kills. The largest land predators in Miocene South America were the giant, ground-dwelling "terror birds", the phorusrhacids.


Phorusrhacids were probably the most formidable rivals that Argentavis faced, with the largest species weighing about three times as much as the teratorn. Unlike extant condors and vultures, teratorns generally had long, eagle-like beaks and are believed to have been active predators. This is seemingly true as well of Argentavis but other teratorns were likely far less ponderous considering the substantial size differences. Argentavis may have used its wings and size to intimidate metatherian mammals and small phorusrhacids from their kills.[14][18] Argentavis may have also ambushed some small live prey, i.e. large rodents, small armadillos and the young of large animals such as ground sloths. The species would've required about 2.5 to 5 kg (5.5 to 11.0 lb) of meat each day.

Behavior

The Argentavis is an aggressive predator and scavenger and doesn't mind humans if it eats carrion.

Distribution and Habitat

This species was found on three sites in the Epecuén and Andalhualá Formations in central and northwestern Argentina dating to the Late Miocene (Huayquerian), where a good sample of fossils has been obtained.


Tamed

Argentavis can be pet, you must kill fish and then bring it to the teratorn to tame it.

Lore

In the episodic series Two Lights, Worldcraft, and Equation, a group of hunters who were conservationists owned an Argentavis that was located on Reinacho's planet, Nueva Varrios Los Aztecas. These have nothing to do with the airliner gang known as GTA. Even with its size, it cannot support a lot of weight when hoisted by four or more Argentavis.

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