Scientists have discovered evidence of a gruesome battle between two apex predators, 13 million years ago. The remains of a terror bird, known for its powerful legs and hooked beak, were found with puncture marks made by the teeth of an extinct caiman species called Purussaurus neivensis.
The discovery was made in Colombia’s Tatacoa Desert, where the terror bird is believed to have lived. Researchers analyzed the tooth marks on a fossilized leg bone using 3D digital scans and compared them to the skulls and teeth of crocodile-like predators in museum collections.
According to lead researcher Andres Link, the bite marks suggest that the terror bird was killed in an attack by the caiman predator. The researchers found no sign of healing in the bite marks on the bone, indicating that the bird died soon after being attacked.
The Tatacoa Desert is a rich source of fossils from the Middle Miocene epoch, which was a humid swamp environment where river sediments trapped and fossilized the bones of dead animals. The discovery provides rare evidence of an interaction between two extinct top predators at the time.
While the researchers cannot confirm whether the terror bird was killed by the caiman predator or if it was scavenged later, they believe that the presence of bite marks suggests a more direct confrontation. The study provides insight into an ancient ecosystem and highlights the vulnerability of ferocious terror birds to predators.
The discovery of this tiny bone has shed new light on the lives of these fascinating creatures, revealing that even the most fearsome animals had their weaknesses.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg8d2j195yo