Dinornis robustus (Owen, 1846)
Aves
Paleognathae
Dinornithiformes
Dinornithidae
Pleistocene - Holocene
South Island, New Zealand
Height: 3.5 m
The South Island moa might have been the tallest bird that ever lived. Females were much larger than males. The moas are believed to have been driven to extinction by humans as they reached New Zealand around 1300 AD. The feathers were hair-like and reddish brown. The species D. novaezealandiae from the North Island was a bit smaller.
January 29, 2017
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