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Description
It is said that less than 0.1% of all species that have lived are ever lucky enough to have a fossil representation. After all, the odds stacked against fossilization are immense. And yet, we have a dazzling array of species we know lived and breathed long before us. So imagine all the ones we have no idea about.

This is my highly-speculative project, What-If Paleontology, that is based on the above knowledge (or lack thereof). I'm creating new species and genus names, and drawing up paleoart to go along with them. This is not meant to be 100% scientifically accurate, but rather a fun exploration of a whole lot of what-ifs. Each critter will have a scientific name and translation, a full side view, and any pertinent additional images. It will also have a speculative paleobehavior paragraph to go with it. While speculative, these are heavily researched and based on their known-to-exist cousins.

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Avilophus - "bird crest"
Phorusrhacid aka Terror Bird
Early Pleistocene epoch
Northern South America
3.5 feet tall, 100-200 pounds

Avilophus, named for its prominent twinned crests, was a later species of Phorusrachidae. Like its counterparts, it was an active predator that ran down its prey and then kicked or pecked it to death. It used its powerful beak to tear off chunks of meat. Fossil evidence shows it likely mated for life, staying together and hunting as a pair year-round. Eggs were large, likely needing months to incubate. Hatchlings were likely fed tiny pieces of meat that its parents brought back, and later the babies would have tagged along on hunts to learn. Chicks leave their parents soon before their next set of siblings is due to hatch. They reached maturity around 5 to 6 years of age, when they then seek out a partner. During the breeding season, male Avilophus likely unerwent a striking color change to attract and keep a mate, and to ward off rivals.

Description
It is said that less than 0.1% of all species that have lived are ever lucky enough to have a fossil representation. After all, the odds stacked against fossilization are immense. And yet, we have a dazzling array of species we know lived and breathed long before us. So imagine all the ones we have no idea about.

This is my highly-speculative project, What-If Paleontology, that is based on the above knowledge (or lack thereof). I'm creating new species and genus names, and drawing up paleoart to go along with them. This is not meant to be 100% scientifically accurate, but rather a fun exploration of a whole lot of what-ifs. Each critter will have a scientific name and translation, a full side view, and any pertinent additional images. It will also have a speculative paleobehavior paragraph to go with it. While speculative, these are heavily researched and based on their known-to-exist cousins.

~~~~

Avilophus - "bird crest"
Phorusrhacid aka Terror Bird
Early Pleistocene epoch
Northern South America
3.5 feet tall, 100-200 pounds

Avilophus, named for its prominent twinned crests, was a later species of Phorusrachidae. Like its counterparts, it was an active predator that ran down its prey and then kicked or pecked it to death. It used its powerful beak to tear off chunks of meat. Fossil evidence shows it likely mated for life, staying together and hunting as a pair year-round. Eggs were large, likely needing months to incubate. Hatchlings were likely fed tiny pieces of meat that its parents brought back, and later the babies would have tagged along on hunts to learn. Chicks leave their parents soon before their next set of siblings is due to hatch. They reached maturity around 5 to 6 years of age, when they then seek out a partner. During the breeding season, male Avilophus likely unerwent a striking color change to attract and keep a mate, and to ward off rivals.