Natural Science Forum / Biology / Paleontology / July 2004

I was checking using Google search engine for the weight of Teratorn, a
fossil bird from Argentina that may be the largest flying bird. I came
across rather startling facts: (1) the creature weighed about 165 pounds and
(2) its feathers were immense - 1.5m (5 feet) long. One site has a painting
of Teratorn confronting a coyote.

That got me to wondering about how such a heavy creature could fly and why I
hadn't heard these remarkable facts before. One listed source for Teratorn
data was Geoscience Research Institute. Further checking revealed the
following:

"The Geoscience Research Institute, founded in 1958, was established to
address this question by looking at the scientific evidence concerning
origins. The Institute uses both science and revelation to study the
question of origins because it considers the exclusive use of science as too
narrow an approach. The Institute serves the Seventh-day Adventist church in
two major areas: research and communication." That isn't what I call
reliable and then I learned that a Ted Holden was also a data source for
Teratorn. Holden seems to believe that gravity back in Teratorn's period was
lots less than it is at present.

So briefly, from people who know, what is the estimated weight of Teratorn?
As I understand it, the largest flying eagle today weighs around 25 pounds.
The Cretaceous Pteranodon had a Weight of 25 - 37 lbs and a Wing span of 288
inches. How much of that body weight was in the wings? Anybody know?

This all came about from a question posed in Yahoo Group AH-Evolution,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AH-evolution/?yguid=61576679 . It's a science
fiction group that explores various alternative evolutionary paths to life
on this planet. The alternative lifeforms of Dougal Dixon and similar
authors are often discussed.