Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog whole

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The Times October 26, 2006 The phorusrhacid, a huge and agile carnivore, was the terror of the continent 15 million years ago Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog wholeBy Lewis Smith An avian monster and a bee trapped in amber 100 million years ago are making scientists think again THE two finds prove that even the experts have a lot to learn about the birds and the bees. Scientists believe that a 100 million-year-old fossilised insect discovered in Burma is the “missing link” between bees and wasps, containing as it does features from both. And a skull found in Argentina has forced researchers to upgrade their estimates of the agility of phorusrhacids, giant birds that roamed the earth millions of years ago, because their original figures assumed that they had smaller limbs. The skull measuring 28in (60cm) was found in Comallo. According to the journal Nature, it is about 15 million years old and virtually complete. The bird’s viciously hooked beak would have been capable of inflicting a devastating blow to prey as large as cows. A creature the size of a dog might have been swallowed whole. Researchers from the Dinosaur Institute in Los Angeles said: “The broad range of sizes and inferred agility of phorusrhacids has been traditionally subdivided into groups of increased corpulence and

proportionately reduced agility. “On the basis of length measurements of the skull, [this bird] is estimated to be 10 per cent larger than the largest phorusrhacids previously known. This bird may have been substantially swifter.” Meanwhile, the bee, which has been preserved in amber, is 100 million-year-old, making it 35 to 45 million years older than any previous example and is a “missing link” between bees and wasps. Its discovery was announced in the journal Science, at the same time as the genome sequence, or genetic blueprint, of the honeybee was published. Professor George Poinar, of Oregon State University, said: “This is the oldest known bee we’ve ever been able to identify, and it shares some of the features of wasps. “Overall, it’s more bee than wasp, and gives us a pretty good idea of when these two types of insects were separating on their evolutionary paths.” It was found in a mine in Burma and may help to

explain the evolutionary development of flowers. The bee is only 0.12 inches (3mm) long, a size consistent with that of the earliest flowers. Mr Poinar said: “Flowering plants are very important in the evolution of life. They can reproduce more quickly, develop greater genetic diversity, spread more easily and move into new habitats. “But prior to the evolution of bees they didn’t have any strong mechanism to spread their pollen, only a few flies and beetles that didn’t go very far.” The DNA code of the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, was published in Nature, with associated papers in forthcoming issues of Science and Genome Research. It is the fourth insect to have its genetic blueprint unravelled, after the fruit fly, mosquito and silk moth. Its genome sequence reveals striking links with mammals and humans, scientists said. Honey bees have an internal “biological clock” which is more like those of mammals

than of flies. The clock governs many activities, including time sensing, navigation, labour division, and a “dance language” which the insects use to communicate information about food sources.Peter H

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HiPeter

 

It looks like a giant version of something I've seen in the Natural History Museum - a dodo maybe. It wouldn't have been much good calling that a 'pretty boy' would it?

 

Jo

 

-

peter VV

Thursday, October 26, 2006 6:58 PM

Re: Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog whole

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Times

October 26, 2006

 

 

 

The phorusrhacid, a huge and agile carnivore, was the terror of the continent 15 million years ago

 

 

 

 

 

Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog wholeBy Lewis Smith

An avian monster and a bee trapped in amber 100 million years ago are making scientists think again

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE two finds prove that even the experts have a lot to learn about the birds and the bees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scientists believe that a 100 million-year-old fossilised insect discovered in Burma is the “missing link” between bees and wasps, containing as it does features from both. And a skull found in Argentina has forced researchers to upgrade their estimates of the agility of phorusrhacids, giant birds that roamed the earth millions of years ago, because their original figures assumed that they had smaller limbs. The skull measuring 28in (60cm) was found in Comallo. According to the journal Nature, it is about 15 million years old and virtually complete. The bird’s viciously hooked beak would have been capable of inflicting a devastating blow to prey as large as cows. A creature the size of a dog might have been swallowed whole. Researchers from the Dinosaur Institute in Los Angeles said: “The broad range of sizes and inferred agility of phorusrhacids has been traditionally subdivided into groups of increased corpulence and proportionately reduced agility. “On the basis of length measurements of the skull, [this bird] is estimated to be 10 per cent larger than the largest phorusrhacids previously known. This bird may have been substantially swifter.” Meanwhile, the bee, which has been preserved in amber, is 100 million-year-old, making it 35 to 45 million years older than any previous example and is a “missing link” between bees and wasps. Its discovery was announced in the journal Science, at the same time as the genome sequence, or genetic blueprint, of the honeybee was published. Professor George Poinar, of Oregon State University, said: “This is the oldest known bee we’ve ever been able to identify, and it shares some of the features of wasps. “Overall, it’s more bee than wasp, and gives us a pretty good idea of when these two types of insects were separating on their evolutionary paths.” It was found in a mine in Burma and may help to explain the evolutionary development of flowers. The bee is only 0.12 inches (3mm) long, a size consistent with that of the earliest flowers. Mr Poinar said: “Flowering plants are very important in the evolution of life. They can reproduce more quickly, develop greater genetic diversity, spread more easily and move into new habitats. “But prior to the evolution of bees they didn’t have any strong mechanism to spread their pollen, only a few flies and beetles that didn’t go very far.” The DNA code of the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, was published in Nature, with associated papers in forthcoming issues of Science and Genome Research. It is the fourth insect to have its genetic blueprint unravelled, after the fruit fly, mosquito and silk moth. Its genome sequence reveals striking links with mammals and humans, scientists said. Honey bees have an internal “biological clock” which is more like those of mammals than of flies. The clock governs many activities, including time sensing, navigation, labour division, and a “dance language” which the insects use to communicate information about food sources.

Peter H

 

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I think that if you managed to get close enough to call it anything, it would probably be something like "the end". The Valley Vegan............jo <jo.heartwork wrote: HiPeter It looks like a giant version of something I've seen in the Natural History Museum - a dodo maybe. It wouldn't have been much good calling that a 'pretty boy' would it? Jo - peter VV Thursday, October 26, 2006 6:58 PM Re: Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog whole The Times October 26,

2006 The phorusrhacid, a huge and agile carnivore, was the terror of the continent 15 million years ago Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog wholeBy Lewis Smith An avian monster and a bee trapped in amber 100 million years ago are making scientists think again THE two finds prove that even the experts have a lot to learn about the birds and the bees. Scientists believe that a 100 million-year-old fossilised insect discovered in Burma is the “missing link” between bees and wasps, containing as it does features from both. And a skull found in Argentina has forced researchers to upgrade their estimates of the agility of phorusrhacids, giant birds that roamed the earth millions of years

ago, because their original figures assumed that they had smaller limbs. The skull measuring 28in (60cm) was found in Comallo. According to the journal Nature, it is about 15 million years old and virtually complete. The bird’s viciously hooked beak would have been capable of inflicting a devastating blow to prey as large as cows. A creature the size of a dog might have been swallowed whole. Researchers from the Dinosaur Institute in Los Angeles said: “The broad range of sizes and inferred agility of phorusrhacids has been traditionally subdivided into groups of increased corpulence and proportionately reduced agility. “On the basis of length measurements of the skull, [this bird] is estimated to be 10 per cent larger than the largest phorusrhacids previously known. This bird may have been substantially swifter.” Meanwhile, the bee, which has been preserved in amber, is 100 million-year-old, making it 35 to 45 million years older than any

previous example and is a “missing link” between bees and wasps. Its discovery was announced in the journal Science, at the same time as the genome sequence, or genetic blueprint, of the honeybee was published. Professor George Poinar, of Oregon State University, said: “This is the oldest known bee we’ve ever been able to identify, and it shares some of the features of wasps. “Overall, it’s more bee than wasp, and gives us a pretty good idea of when these two types of insects were separating on their evolutionary paths.” It was found in a mine in Burma and may help to explain the evolutionary development of flowers. The bee is only 0.12 inches (3mm) long, a size consistent with that of the earliest flowers. Mr Poinar said: “Flowering plants are very important in the evolution of life. They can reproduce more quickly, develop greater genetic diversity, spread more easily and move into new habitats. “But prior to the evolution

of bees they didn’t have any strong mechanism to spread their pollen, only a few flies and beetles that didn’t go very far.” The DNA code of the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, was published in Nature, with associated papers in forthcoming issues of Science and Genome Research. It is the fourth insect to have its genetic blueprint unravelled, after the fruit fly, mosquito and silk moth. Its genome sequence reveals striking links with mammals and humans, scientists said. Honey bees have an internal “biological clock” which is more like those of mammals than of flies. The clock governs many activities, including time sensing, navigation, labour division, and a “dance language” which the insects use to communicate information about food sources. Peter H Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger. Peter H

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[Guest guest]

well..if you happened to be around when it was

remember...you wouldn't have to run fast

just faster then the next person

 

beak does resemble a do-do..

but, they were just overgrown flightless pigeons

 

to me it resembles a south american terror bird

peter VV Oct 26, 2006 3:57 PM Re: Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog whole

I think that if you managed to get close enough to call it anything, it would probably be something like "the end".

 

The Valley Vegan............

As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness. William O. Douglas

[Guest guest]

fascinating!

 

, peter VV <swpgh01 wrote:

>

>

> The Times October 26, 2006

>

>

> The phorusrhacid, a huge and agile carnivore, was the terror of the

continent 15 million years ago

> Prehistoric bird that could have swallowed a dog wholeBy Lewis Smith

> An avian monster and a bee trapped in amber 100 million years ago

are making scientists think again

> THE two finds prove that even the experts have a lot to learn

about the birds and the bees.

>