Body-mass estimation in terror birds

Comparing direct and indirect anatomical calibrations for fossil body-mass estimation.

This project examines how to estimate body mass in terror birds using the width of the third tarsometatarsal trochlea (TMTIIIW).

The planned comparison contrasts a direct anatomical measurement-to-mass calibration with an indirect approach that first estimates femur length and then body mass. Analyses use published extant and fossil measurements, log–log allometry, cross-validation, and prediction-interval assessment.

The goal is to quantify predictive error and uncertainty, including sensitivity to the calibration sample.

Status: manuscript in preparation. No results or publication are claimed here.