Large condor (Aves, Cathartidae) from the Late Pleistocene of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

The fossil record of condors in South America is relatively extensive. However, fossil specimens from the late Pleistocene of Argentina are still very scarce. Here, we describe fragmentary remains of a large sized cathartid of the condor lineage. The new specimen is represented by an incomplete ulna, radius and metacarpal belonging to the Lujanian (Late Pleistocene) of San Pedro locality, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Its large size (it is among the largest cathartids reported up to the date) and some anatomical details indicate that it belongs to a previously unrecognised taxon. The new specimen reinforces previous proposals indicating a high diversification of condors at South American lowlands, and indicates that the Pleistocene history of the clade is far from being satisfactorily known. The extinction of giant scavenger birds in South America may be not only related to the extinction of their food resources (i.e., megafauna) but also to ecological constraints that characterise large-sized birds.

Automated summary

This study describes a new fossil specimen of a condor-like bird, which is characterized by its large size and unique anatomical features. The discovery enhances previous hypotheses about the high diversity of condors in the lowlands of South America and highlights the inadequate understanding of their Pleistocene history. Furthermore, the extinction of giant scavenger birds in South America may be attributed to ecological constraints they faced.