Family Dinornithidae
Subfamily Megalapteryginae
Gender Megalapteryx
Species Megalapteryx didinus
Subfamily Anomalopteryginae
Gender Anomalopteryx
Species Anomalopteryx didiformis
Gender Euryapteryx
Species Eurypteryx curtus
Species Eurypteryx geranoids
Gender And mine
Species Emus crassus
Gender Pachyornis
Species Pachyornis australis
Species Pachyornis elephantopus
Species pachyornis mappini
Subfamily Dinornithinae
Gender dinornis
Species dinornis novaezealandiae
Species Dinornis robustus
Moas were non-flying birds endemic to New Zealand, belonging to the family Dinornithidae. Considered among the largest birds ever existing on Earth, they could reach two meters in height and two hundred and fifty kilos. They had a long neck, a small head, a broad, straight beak; besides stunted, boneless wings.
With herbivorous feeding habits, they fed on fruits and leaves of plants up to 30 centimeters in height. Many of these are currently threatened with extinction, or are rare, suggesting the relationship between moas and the ability to reproduce and disperse such plants.
These birds lived in small groups, being the dominant animals in the ecosystem; although they were often preyed upon by the haast's eagle. Females were larger than males, being able to give rise to one or two large eggs per litter.
Unfortunately, in the middle of the 16th century, with the arrival of the Maori people in this region, the moas and their eggs began to be preyed upon, mainly for food purposes; and its habitat changed considerably. In addition, volcanic eruptions and diseases caused by migratory birds led to the extinction of these individuals.
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology
Brazil School Team
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"Extinct animals" section
Extinct animals -Animals -Brazil School