The giant Cuban owl or giant cursorial owl (Ornimegalonyx) is an extinct genus of giant owl that measured 1.1 metres (3 ft 7 in) in height. It is closely related to the many species of living owls of the genus Strix.[1] It was a flightless or nearly flightless bird and it is believed to be the largest owl that ever existed. It lived on the island of Cuba.
The first fossil specimen was mistakenly described as a bird in the family Phorusrhacidae, in part because the bones were so large. In 1961, Pierce Brodkorb reviewed the findings and identified them to have belonged to an owl. Remains have been abundant throughout the island, in cave deposits from the Late Pleistocene period (126,000 to 11,700 years ago) and at least three nearly complete skeletons have been found.
A 2020 study concluded that those species are all synonyms of O. oteroi, and describe a new valid species, Ornimegalonyx ewingi, from material formerly assigned to the prehistoric horned owl Bubo osvaldoi.[3]
"Ornimegalonyx arredondoi" is a nomen nudum; the name was proposed for this species before it was described but oteroi was eventually adopted by Oscar Arredondo (according to the rules of the ICZN, naming a species after oneself is not prohibited, but it is frowned upon as vain by the scientific community[citation needed]).
Descriptionedit
Size of Ornimegalonyx compared to a human.
Arredondo estimated the height of Ornimegalonyx to have been 1.1 m (3 ft 7 in) tall.[4][5] It had very long legs for its size, but was bulky overall and probably short-tailed. Its body mass in life is initially estimated to have been approximately 30 kg (66 lb),[6] but later studies suggest a mass of 9 to 13.5 kg (20 to 30 lb).[7][8][9][10] The modern owl that most resembles the Cuban giant owl in proportions is probably the dainty and quite small burrowing owl, the only surviving owl closely tied to the ground. This implies similar adaptations to the terrestrial lifestyle, but not a close phylogenetic relationship.[5]
The legs and feet of the Cuban giant owl appear to be very large and powerfully built. This supports the theory that they were strong runners, hence the alternate name, cursorial. The keel of the sternum was reduced and the owl may have been capable of short burst of flight. It is probable that, like a modern wild turkey, the owl only took flight when extremely pressed, more often choosing to run. The females of this owl species were larger than the males.[4][9]
Dietedit
The Cuban giant owl is believed to have preyed principally on large hutias, including Capromys, Geocapromys, and Macrocapromys (the latter being the size of a modern nutria or capybara) and the ground slothsCubanocnus, Miocnus, Mesocnus, and Megalocnus, some of these sloths being roughly the size of a black bear.[4] It was probably an ambush predator that would pounce on unsuspecting prey with its crushing talons.
^Feduccia, Alan (1996) "The Origin and Evolution of Birds" Yale University Press
^ abcArredondo, Oscar (1982). Los Strigiformes fósiles del pleistoceno cubano. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 140, 33-55.
^Suárez, William (2020). "Remarks on extinct giant owls (Strigidae) from Cuba, with description of a new species of Ornimegalonyx Arredondo". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club. 140 (4): 387–392. doi:10.25226/bboc.v140i4.2020.a3. S2CID 228076517.
^ abcArredondo, Oscar (1976) translated Olson, Storrs L. The Great Predatory Birds of the Pleistocene of Cuba pp. 169-187 in "Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology number 27; Collected Papers in Avian Paleontology Honoring the 90th Birthday of Alexander Wetmore"
^ abArredondo, O. (1972). Especie nueva de lechuza gigante (Strigiformes: Tytonidae) del Pleistoceno cubano. Boletín de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 124/125: 129–140.
^Arredondo, O. 1970. Nueva especie de ave pleistocénica del orden Accipitriformes (Accipitridae) y nuevo género para las Antillas. Ciencias Biológicas, 4: 1–19.
^Egbert Giles Leigh, Annette Hladik, Claude Marcel Hladik, Alison Jolly. The biogeography of large islands, or how does the size of the ecological theater affect the evolutionary play. Revue d’Ecologie, Terre et Vie, Société nationale de protection de la nature, 2007, 62, pp.105-168. ffhal-00283373
^Kurochkin, E. & Mayo, N. A. (1973). Las lechuzas gigantes del Pleistoceno Superior de Cuba. Instituto de Geología, Academia de Ciencias de Cuba. Actas, Resúmenes, Comunicaciones y notas del V Consejo Científico 3: 56–60.
^ abAlegre, Y. (2002). Análisis morfofuncional de la locomoción del búho gigante Ornimegalonyx oteroi (Aves: Strigidae) del Cuaternario de Cuba. Degree Thesis, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana.
^Feduccia, A. (1999). The Origin and Evolution of Birds. 2nd ed. Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut.
January 01, 1970
ornimegalonyx, giant, cuban, giant, cursorial, extinct, genus, giant, that, measured, metres, height, closely, related, many, species, living, owls, genus, strix, flightless, nearly, flightless, bird, believed, largest, that, ever, existed, lived, island, cuba. The giant Cuban owl or giant cursorial owl Ornimegalonyx is an extinct genus of giant owl that measured 1 1 metres 3 ft 7 in in height It is closely related to the many species of living owls of the genus Strix 1 It was a flightless or nearly flightless bird and it is believed to be the largest owl that ever existed It lived on the island of Cuba Giant Cuban owlTemporal range Late Pleistocene Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Aves Order Strigiformes Family Strigidae Genus OrnimegalonyxArredondo 1954 Species O oteroi Arredondo 1954 type O ewingi Suarez 2020 The first fossil specimen was mistakenly described as a bird in the family Phorusrhacidae in part because the bones were so large In 1961 Pierce Brodkorb reviewed the findings and identified them to have belonged to an owl Remains have been abundant throughout the island in cave deposits from the Late Pleistocene period 126 000 to 11 700 years ago and at least three nearly complete skeletons have been found Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Diet 4 See also 5 ReferencesTaxonomy editIn the past three additional species of Ornimegalonyx besides O oteroi were regarded as valid All were described in 1982 and include Ornimegalonyx minor Arredondo 1982 2 Ornimegalonyx gigas Arredondo 1982 2 Ornimegalonyx acevedoi Arredondo 1982 2 A 2020 study concluded that those species are all synonyms of O oteroi and describe a new valid species Ornimegalonyx ewingi from material formerly assigned to the prehistoric horned owl Bubo osvaldoi 3 Ornimegalonyx arredondoi is a nomen nudum the name was proposed for this species before it was described but oteroi was eventually adopted by Oscar Arredondo according to the rules of the ICZN naming a species after oneself is not prohibited but it is frowned upon as vain by the scientific community citation needed Description edit nbsp Size of Ornimegalonyx compared to a human Arredondo estimated the height of Ornimegalonyx to have been 1 1 m 3 ft 7 in tall 4 5 It had very long legs for its size but was bulky overall and probably short tailed Its body mass in life is initially estimated to have been approximately 30 kg 66 lb 6 but later studies suggest a mass of 9 to 13 5 kg 20 to 30 lb 7 8 9 10 The modern owl that most resembles the Cuban giant owl in proportions is probably the dainty and quite small burrowing owl the only surviving owl closely tied to the ground This implies similar adaptations to the terrestrial lifestyle but not a close phylogenetic relationship 5 The legs and feet of the Cuban giant owl appear to be very large and powerfully built This supports the theory that they were strong runners hence the alternate name cursorial The keel of the sternum was reduced and the owl may have been capable of short burst of flight It is probable that like a modern wild turkey the owl only took flight when extremely pressed more often choosing to run The females of this owl species were larger than the males 4 9 Diet editThe Cuban giant owl is believed to have preyed principally on large hutias including Capromys Geocapromys and Macrocapromys the latter being the size of a modern nutria or capybara and the ground sloths Cubanocnus Miocnus Mesocnus and Megalocnus some of these sloths being roughly the size of a black bear 4 It was probably an ambush predator that would pounce on unsuspecting prey with its crushing talons See also edit nbsp Paleontology portal Tyto pollens Tyto gigantea Tyto robusta Grallistrix Chickcharney Late Quaternary prehistoric birds List of extinct birds List of fossil birds List of extinct animals Flightless birdsReferences edit Feduccia Alan 1996 The Origin and Evolution of Birds Yale University Press a b c Arredondo Oscar 1982 Los Strigiformes fosiles del pleistoceno cubano Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 140 33 55 Suarez William 2020 Remarks on extinct giant owls Strigidae from Cuba with description of a new species of Ornimegalonyx Arredondo Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 140 4 387 392 doi 10 25226 bboc v140i4 2020 a3 S2CID 228076517 a b c Arredondo Oscar 1976 translated Olson Storrs L The Great Predatory Birds of the Pleistocene of Cuba pp 169 187 in Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology number 27 Collected Papers in Avian Paleontology Honoring the 90th Birthday of Alexander Wetmore a b Arredondo O 1972 Especie nueva de lechuza gigante Strigiformes Tytonidae del Pleistoceno cubano Boletin de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales 124 125 129 140 Arredondo O 1970 Nueva especie de ave pleistocenica del orden Accipitriformes Accipitridae y nuevo genero para las Antillas Ciencias Biologicas 4 1 19 Egbert Giles Leigh Annette Hladik Claude Marcel Hladik Alison Jolly The biogeography of large islands or how does the size of the ecological theater affect the evolutionary play Revue d Ecologie Terre et Vie Societe nationale de protection de la nature 2007 62 pp 105 168 ffhal 00283373 Kurochkin E amp Mayo N A 1973 Las lechuzas gigantes del Pleistoceno Superior de Cuba Instituto de Geologia Academia de Ciencias de Cuba Actas Resumenes Comunicaciones y notas del V Consejo Cientifico 3 56 60 a b Alegre Y 2002 Analisis morfofuncional de la locomocion del buho gigante Ornimegalonyx oteroi Aves Strigidae del Cuaternario de Cuba Degree Thesis Facultad de Biologia Universidad de La Habana Feduccia A 1999 The Origin and Evolution of Birds 2nd ed Yale University Press New Haven Connecticut Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ornimegalonyx amp oldid 1193076151, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
