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How an Airplane-Sized Bird Replaced Its Feathers
usnews. ^ | June 16, 2009 | Jeanna Bryner, LiveScience

Posted on 06/19/2009 4:31:56 PM PDT by JoeProBono

Bird size is limited by the time it takes to replace feathers. An extinct bird the size of a Cessna airplane and weighing as much as an average human was one of the largest birds to have ever flown the friendly skies.

Scientists have wondered how the bird, called Argentavis magnificens, could balloon to such heft (more than 150 pounds, or 70 kg) and still replace its feathers during a molt. Now, new research reveals the bird, which lived 6 million years ago in the Miocene epoch, likely molted all of its feathers at once during a long fast.


TOPICS: Science
KEYWORDS: bird; godsgravesglyphs
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To: JoeProBono

Those murdering Georges will rue the day they killed my baby!

21 posted on 06/19/2009 8:20:11 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The mob got President Barabbas; America got shafted)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]


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