A new terror bird (Cariamiformes, Phorusrhacidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Brazil: insights into the last representatives of the family

Abstract Terror birds comprise an iconic group of apex predator birds from America, with a rich fossil record that is one of the longest among birds for a Neoaves family, ranging from the middle Eocene to the latest Pleistocene. Here, we report the discovery of a new genus and species of Phorusrhacidae, based on an incomplete tibiotarsus recovered from an Upper Pleistocene (25 326–25 733 cal yr BP) cave deposit in Bahia, northeastern Brazil, and previously interpreted as a New World vulture. The preserved morphology exhibits unique diagnostic features that support the recognition of a new species belonging to the small‐size phorusrhacids, the Psilopterinae, a clade that probably had poor flying abilities. In addition to the systematic assignment, we discuss aspects of its palaeoecology (isotopic habitat and body mass estimate), providing new insights into the diversity and evolutionary history of the last known terror birds.