Pachyornis

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iPachyornis

Prehistoric

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Superorder:	Paleognathae
Order:	Struthioniformes
Family:	Dinornithidae
Genus:	Pachyornis Lydekker, 1891

Species

Heavy-footed Moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (type)
Crested Moa, Pachyornis australis
Mappin's Moa, Pachyornis mappini
Pachyornis new lineage A (undescribed taxon)
Pachyornis new lineage B (undescribed taxon)

Synonyms

Cela Oliver, 1949

The genus Pachyornis is an extinct group of ratites from New Zealand which belonged to the moa family. They are the largest genus of moa, containing 3-5 species, and are part of the Anomalopteryginae or Lesser Moa subfamily. Pachyornis moa were the stoutest and most heavy-legged species of the family. They were generally similar to the Eastern Moa or the Broad-billed moa of the genus Euryapteryx, but differed in having a pointed bill and being more heavyset in general. At least one species (P. australis) is assumed to have had a crest of long feathers on its head. The species became rapidly extinct following human colonization of New Zealand, with the possible exception of P. australis, which may have already been extinct by then.

Two new genetic lineages, which may eventually be described as new species, are now known to have existed, one each from New Zealand's North and South Island (Baker et al., 2005).

[edit] References

Baker, Allan J.; Huynen, Leon J.; Haddrath, Oliver; Millar, Craig D. & Lambert, David M. (2005): Reconstructing the tempo and mode of evolution in an extinct clade of birds with ancient DNA: The giant moas of New Zealand. PNAS 102(23): 8257-8262. DOI:10.1073/pnas.0409435102 PDF fulltext Supporting Information
Lydekker, Richard (1891): [Genus Pachyornis]. Catalogue of the Fossil Birds in the British Museum (Natural History): 316. ISBN 0-543-95778-0 (paperback, 2001 facsimile reprint)