Gigantohierax is a genus of eagle from the Quaternary of present-day Cuba. Little is known about the two known species of the genus other than their very large size.
It is known from two species, Gigantohierax suarezi and Gigantohierax itchei, and was first described by Arredondo & Arredondo in 2002 based on material found in cave deposits in Cuba.[2] The second species was described in 2020 by William Suaréz, and was found in the Las Breas de San Felipe tar seeps, also in Cuba.[1]
Description
Gigantohierax is primarily known from fossils of the leg with bones of the femur and the tibiotarsus known. Based on their structure with the thigh having flared ends and twisted structure, these raptors may have been partially terrestrial but not necessarily entirely so, whereas few modern hawks and eagles travel in this manner. Furthermore, the osteology of Gigantohierax implied that it was robustly built, unlike some other large fossil buteonine fossil species.[2][1] The two species of Gigantohierax differed In size. G. itchei was around 29% smaller than G. suarezi. However, what is certain is that Gigantohierax was extremely large. In fact, they are regarded as the largest accipitrid ever known to exist in the Americas.[3] Furthermore, the fossil discovered of G. suarezi approach in size those of Haast's eagle, which is considered the largest eagle and typical bird of prey known to have existed. G. suarezi was considerably larger than the harpy eagle, the largest extant eagle in the Americas (and one of the top two most massive living eagles). If Gigantohierax was nearly the size of Haast's eagle as projected, it may have been over 30 cm (12 in) greater in total length than the harpy eagle and around an estimated 40-50% heavier.[2]Gigantohierax was one of several examples of Island gigantism in Quaternary Cuba, especially several birds and mammals. Of note is that Gigantohierax co-existed with a similarly record largest giant owl, Ornimegalonyx, representing the nocturnal near ecological equivalent.[2][1][4]
References
^ abcdWilliam Suárez (2020). "The fossil avifauna of the tar seeps Las Breas de San Felipe, Matanzas, Cuba". Zootaxa. 4780 (1): zootaxa.4780.1.1. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4780.1.1. PMID 33055754. S2CID 219510089.
^ abcdArredondo, O.; Arredondo, C. (2002) [1999]. "Nuevos Género y Especie de Ave Fósil (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) del Cuaternario de Cuba". Poeyana. 470–475: 9–14.
^Suarez, William (2004). "The Identity of the Fossil Raptor of the Genus Amplibuteo (Aves: Accipitridae) from the Quaternary of Cuba". Caribbean Journal of Science. 40 (1): 120–125.
^Suárez, W. (2022). Catalogue of Cuban fossil and subfossil birds. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club, 142(1), 10-74.
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gigantohierax, genus, eagle, from, quaternary, present, cuba, little, known, about, known, species, genus, other, than, their, very, large, size, temporal, range, quaternary, holocene, preꞒ, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, ave. Gigantohierax is a genus of eagle from the Quaternary of present day Cuba Little is known about the two known species of the genus other than their very large size GigantohieraxTemporal range Quaternary Holocene 0 012 0 005 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder AccipitriformesFamily AccipitridaeGenus GigantohieraxArredondo amp Arredondo 2002Type species Gigantohierax suareziArredondo amp Arredondo 2002Other species 1 Gigantohierax itchei Suarez 2020Species and discovery EditIt is known from two species Gigantohierax suarezi and Gigantohierax itchei and was first described by Arredondo amp Arredondo in 2002 based on material found in cave deposits in Cuba 2 The second species was described in 2020 by William Suarez and was found in the Las Breas de San Felipe tar seeps also in Cuba 1 Description EditGigantohierax is primarily known from fossils of the leg with bones of the femur and the tibiotarsus known Based on their structure with the thigh having flared ends and twisted structure these raptors may have been partially terrestrial but not necessarily entirely so whereas few modern hawks and eagles travel in this manner Furthermore the osteology of Gigantohierax implied that it was robustly built unlike some other large fossil buteonine fossil species 2 1 The two species of Gigantohierax differed In size G itchei was around 29 smaller than G suarezi However what is certain is that Gigantohierax was extremely large In fact they are regarded as the largest accipitrid ever known to exist in the Americas 3 Furthermore the fossil discovered of G suarezi approach in size those of Haast s eagle which is considered the largest eagle and typical bird of prey known to have existed G suarezi was considerably larger than the harpy eagle the largest extant eagle in the Americas and one of the top two most massive living eagles If Gigantohierax was nearly the size of Haast s eagle as projected it may have been over 30 cm 12 in greater in total length than the harpy eagle and around an estimated 40 50 heavier 2 Gigantohierax was one of several examples of Island gigantism in Quaternary Cuba especially several birds and mammals Of note is that Gigantohierax co existed with a similarly record largest giant owl Ornimegalonyx representing the nocturnal near ecological equivalent 2 1 4 References Edit a b c d William Suarez 2020 The fossil avifauna of the tar seeps Las Breas de San Felipe Matanzas Cuba Zootaxa 4780 1 zootaxa 4780 1 1 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 4780 1 1 PMID 33055754 S2CID 219510089 a b c d Arredondo O Arredondo C 2002 1999 Nuevos Genero y Especie de Ave Fosil Falconiformes Accipitridae del Cuaternario de Cuba Poeyana 470 475 9 14 Suarez William 2004 The Identity of the Fossil Raptor of the Genus Amplibuteo Aves Accipitridae from the Quaternary of Cuba Caribbean Journal of Science 40 1 120 125 Suarez W 2022 Catalogue of Cuban fossil and subfossil birds Bulletin of the British Ornithologists Club 142 1 10 74 This prehistoric bird article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gigantohierax amp oldid 1134568535, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
