A new study published in Biology Letters has uncovered a rare glimpse into the complex world of prehistoric ecosystems, revealing that giant terror birds may have fallen prey to caimans. The discovery was made at the La Venta fossil site in Colombia, where a terror bird’s leg bone with tooth marks attributed to a caiman species was found.
The analysis of the tooth marks, which showed no signs of healing, suggests that the terror bird died during the encounter. Researchers used 3D surface scanning and digital modeling to determine that the tooth marks matched a caiman species called Purussaurus neivensis, native to the La Venta area around the same time as the terror bird existed.
The study’s findings highlight the possibility of apex predator encounters between terrestrial and aquatic predators, even in dry seasons. It also sheds light on the complex dynamics between prehistoric ecosystems and predator-prey relationships.
While the frequency of such encounters remains unknown, this discovery provides valuable insights into the world of ancient predators. The researchers note that the encounter may have occurred after the terror bird’s death, but it is clear that the giant bird did not survive the attack.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-07-ancient-caiman-preyed-apex-predator.html