Phororhacos

Incidentally, you might have seen the name Phorusrhacos written as Phororhacos (and Phorusrhacidae written as Phororhacidae).

Terror birds Darren Naish 2006

When in 1889 Ameghino discovered that Phorusrhacos was really a bird, he changed the name to Phororhacos, as this (apparently) means something like ‘rag bearer’ and Ameghino regarded this as more appropriate etymologically than ‘branch holder’ (I regret that I have no idea why, however).

Archive 2006-10-01 Darren Naish 2006

Incidentally, you might have seen the name Phorusrhacos written as Phororhacos (and Phorusrhacidae written as Phororhacidae).

Archive 2006-10-01 Darren Naish 2006

When in 1889 Ameghino discovered that Phorusrhacos was really a bird, he changed the name to Phororhacos, as this (apparently) means something like ‘rag bearer’ and Ameghino regarded this as more appropriate etymologically than ‘branch holder’ (I regret that I have no idea why, however).

Terror birds Darren Naish 2006

Changing of names like this is not allowed under the guidelines of the ICZN and hence Phororhacos – still used by some people even today – should be suppressed.

Archive 2006-10-01 Darren Naish 2006

Changing of names like this is not allowed under the guidelines of the ICZN and hence Phororhacos – still used by some people even today – should be suppressed.

Terror birds Darren Naish 2006

The Phororhacos remained in the cross hairs, the red dot of the laser playing across wind? ruffled feathers.

The Metrognome and Other Stories Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1990

Soon it would emerge to drag the body of the dead Phororhacos back to its new lair.

The Metrognome and Other Stories Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1990

The Phororhacos was dead, the three? meter? tall form of the giant carnivorous running bird stretched out in the snow.

The Metrognome and Other Stories Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1990

The tips of those extraordinary weapons were still stained? with the blood of the Phororhacos.

The Metrognome and Other Stories Foster, Alan Dean, 1946- 1990