Apr 2, 2025 · The moa was a colossal bird, some species standing as tall as 12 feet and weighing up to 500 pounds. These gentle giants were herbivores, browsing on leaves, twigs, and other vegetation. Their long necks allowed them to reach high foliage, much like a giraffe in the African savanna. The moa’s size and dietary habits significantly influenced ...

The North Island giant moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae) is an extinct moa in the genus Dinornis, known in Māori as kuranui. [4] It was a large, herbivorous bird belonging to the order Dinornithiformes, and exhibited a strong sexual dimorphism, with males weighing between 55 and 88 kg and females between 78 and 249 kg.

Scarlett’s duck was one of eight species of waterfowl that became extinct in New Zealand following Polynesian arrival and before European contact. Its nearest relative was the only other member of the genus Malacorhynchus, the pink-eared duck from Australia.

As she sat on a coastal sand dune adjacent to forest, she was surprised to see a large bird of dark bluish plumage standing close to her.

A bird which could fell an adult moa, weighing from 100 to 250 kilograms, at a single strike. It is not surprising that such an impressive predator left its mark on the minds of the early inhabitants of these islands.

Scarlett's shearwater (Puffinus spelaeus) (Māori: Ōiruki) [1] is an extinct species of seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae. Its common name commemorates New Zealand palaeontologist Ron Scarlett, who recognised the bird's subfossil remains represented a distinct species. [2]

Moa were a family of eleven species of flightless birds that were only found within New Zealand. The largest species grew up to 3.7 m (12 ft) tall and weight up to 230 kg (510 lb) – no wonder they were hunted by Maori!

Feb 27, 2024 · The moa were a group of large flightless birds native to New Zealand. They became extinct around the year 1500, shortly after the arrival of humans in New Zealand. Moa were an important part of New Zealand’s pre-human ecosystem and culture.

May 19, 2014 · The Moa were a family of large ancient flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. The two largest of the nine kinds found there were about 12 feet tall and weighed in at 500 pounds. They had small heads and were completely wingless, lacking even the stubby vestigial wings of other flightless birds,; they were the dominant herbivores in the area.

Cracraft (1974) proposed a monophyletic origin for the entire ratite-tinamou assemblage and united them within the single order Palaeognathiformes.