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496 / Cenozoic
Brontornis
Brontornis burmeisteri
Massive legs and a deep beak belonged to one of South America's heaviest flightless birds.
- Time range
- About 17–11 million years ago
- Final stage
- Middle Miocene
- Geographic range
- Open woodland and grassland · Argentina
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Brontornis?
Brontornis (Brontornis burmeisteri) was an extinct organism known from About 17–11 million years ago, with a range in Open woodland and grassland · Argentina.
Life and ecology
It walked open country and may have eaten tough plants or mixed foods; active predation remains disputed.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Brontornis disappear?
Miocene climate, vegetation and terrestrial-bird turnover ended it.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Brontornis?
Jaws and limb bones establish great mass, while diet remains open because beak function and affinity are debated.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS