Aepyornis is an extinct genus of elephant bird formerly endemic to Madagascar. The genus had two species, the smaller A. hildebrandti and the larger A. maximus, which is possibly the largest bird ever to have lived. [2] Its closest living relative is the New Zealand kiwi. [3]

Elephant birds comprised three species, one in the genus Mullerornis, and two in Aepyornis. Aepyornis maximus is possibly the largest bird to have ever lived, with their eggs being the largest known for any amniote.

Elephant birds (Aepyornis, Mullerornis, and Vorombe) were massive birds that lived on the island of Madagascar. Carbon dating suggests that the longest-surviving elephant bird species, A. hildebrandti , lasted in the island’s central highland region until roughly 1,300–1,560 years ago, when deforestation and

Sep 27, 2018 · The first elephant bird to ever be described, Aepyornis maximus, was also believed to be the largest, measuring nearly 10 feet high and weighing up to 1,000 pounds.

Apr 23, 2018 · The eggs of the Aepyornis, also known as the elephant bird, were a highly valuable food source for Madagascar’s human settlers. With a volume roughly equal to that of 150 chicken eggs, a...

Aug 2, 2019 · The elephant bird, genus name Aepyornis, was the largest bird that ever lived, a 10-foot, 1,000-pound behemoth ratite (flightless, long-legged bird) that stomped across the island of Madagascar. Learn more about this bird with these 10 interesting facts.

Dec 1, 2017 · The name elephant bird is also known as Aepyornis Maximus and was derived from Marco Polo’s description of a giant bird that could grab an elephant by its claws. This description describes the Rhuk, though it does not describe the Elephant bird as the bird could not fly.

Aepyornis is an Elephant bird, one of three genera of ratite birds endemic to Madagascar until their extinction about 1000 A.D. The species "A". maximus weighed up to 540 kilograms (1,200 lb), and until recently was regarded as the largest known bird of all time.

Jun 21, 2012 · More popularly known as an‭ ‘‬elephant bird‭’‬,‭ ‬Aepyornis is one of the largest birds ever discovered.‭ ‬This size and associated weight meant that Aepyornis was completely flightless,‭ ‬even lacking the deep keeled breast bone for strong chest muscle attachment.‭ ‬Modern analysis shows that Aepyornis and other ...

Despite its disappearance, Aepyornis has left an indelible mark on the natural history of Madagascar, and the entire world. Its giant eggs (eight litres), among the largest ever known in the animal kingdom, have become objects of great scientific and cultural interest.