A New Teratorn (Aves: Teratornithidae) from the Upper Pleistocene of Oregon, USA

摘要

An associated partial skeleton recovered from a paleo-/archaeological test trench in the Willamette Valley is the first record of the family Teratornithidae from the state of Oregon. Recovered elements include both cranial and postcranial bones and a number of vertebrae. The elements fall with the range of size variation of Teratornis merriami from Rancho La Brea, California, but they have several unique features that indicate that they represent a new species of teratorns. The inferred age of the specimen is approximately 12,000 yrBP, and it is associated with archaeological and micro- and megafaunal remains. Teratornis have not previously been reported from north of central California, although they have been reported from as far east as Florida. Based on their large wingspans, which were in excess of 4 m, teratorns have been interpreted as primarily birds of semi-open terrain where they would not have had trouble maneuvering. From this it may be inferred that such habitats were available in the Willamette Valley 12,000 years ago. The only other reported occurrence of teratorns in proximity to archaeological remains is at Rancho La Brea, California.