Saturday, January 21, 2017

Extinct Giant Owl

Behold the giant prehistoric owl, Ornimegalonyx.


It was the top predator in Cuba until 6,000 years ago. It was the largest owl that ever lived—about 40 inches tall, weighing more than 20 pounds, with long legs and fierce talons.

Its stubby wings might have extended its glide in a foot-first pounce attack against a giant ground sloth many times its size.

The reconstruction is part of the ¡Cuba! exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and the sculpt is by Jason Brougham.

Link: AMNH Website

1 comment:

My Pen Name said...

Interesting. Great to see the AMNH still produces high quality dioramas and reconstructed species. I was impressed with the sculptors and taxidermy of "dinosaurs among us'.