| Gigantohierax | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Accipitriformes |
| Family: | Accipitridae |
| Genus: | †Gigantohierax Arredondo &Arredondo,2002 |
| Type species | |
| †Gigantohierax suarezi Arredondo & Arredondo, 2002 | |
| Other species[1] | |
Gigantohierax is a genus ofeagle from theQuaternary of present-dayCuba. Little is known about the two known species of the genus other than their very large size.
It is known from two species,Gigantohierax suarezi andGigantohierax itchei, and was first described by Arredondo & Arredondo in 2002 based on material found in cave deposits in Cuba.[2] The second species was described in 2020 by William Suaréz, and was found in the Las Breas de San Felipe tar seeps, also in Cuba.[1]
Gigantohierax is primarily known from fossils of the leg with bones of thefemur and thetibiotarsus known. Based on their structure with the thigh having flared ends and twisted structure, these raptors may have been partially terrestrial but not necessarily entirely so, whereas few modern hawks and eagles travel in this manner. Furthermore, the osteology ofGigantohierax implied that it was robustly built, unlike some other large fossilbuteonine fossil species.[2][1] The two species ofGigantohierax differed In size.G. itchei was around 29% smaller thanG. suarezi. However, what is certain is thatGigantohierax was extremely large. In fact, they are regarded as the largest accipitrid ever known to exist in the Americas.[3] Furthermore, the fossil discovered ofG. suarezi approach in size those of theHaast's eagle, which is considered the largest eagle and typical bird of prey known to have existed.G. suarezi was considerably larger than theharpy eagle, the largest extant eagle in the Americas (and one of the top two most massive living eagles). IfGigantohierax was nearly the size of Haast's eagle as projected, it may have been over 30 cm (12 in) greater in total length than the harpy eagle and around an estimated 40-50% heavier.[2]Gigantohierax was one of several examples ofIsland gigantism in Quaternary Cuba, especially several birds and mammals. Of note is thatGigantohierax co-existed with a similarly record largest giant owl,Ornimegalonyx, representing the nocturnal nearecological equivalent.[2][1][4]
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