Review of the putative Phorusrhacidae from the Cretaceous and Paleogene of Antarctica: new records of ratites and pelagornithid birds

Abstract

Remains referred to Phorusrhacidae from the Cretaceous and Paleogene of the Antarctic Peninsula, and mainly known through informal and succinct descriptions, are re- assigned here to other bird lineages recorded in the Antarctic continent. New records of ratites, pelagornithid birds, and penguins are added to the Upper Eocene avifauna of Sey- mour Island. Moreover, the original allocation for an alleged cursorial seriema-like bird from the Maastrichtian of Vega Island is refuted, and its affinities with foot-propelled div- ing birds are indicated. The indeterminate Pelagornithidae specimen represents the largest pseudo-toothed bird known so far. It is concluded that there is no empirical evidence for the presence of terror birds in Antarctica.