| Heavy-footed moa | |
|---|---|
| Pachyornis elephantopus skeleton at Göteborgs Naturhistoriska Museum, Sweden. | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Superorder: | Paleognathae |
| Order: | Struthioniformes |
| Family: | Dinornithidae |
| Genus: | Pachyornis |
| Species: | Pachyornis elephantopus (Owen, 1856) |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachyornis elephantopus (Owen, 1856)[1] |
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The Heavy-footed Moa, Pachyornis elephantopus, is a species of Moa from the Family Dinornithidae. This moa was widespread on the South Island only, and its habitat was the lowlands (shrublands, dunelands, grasslands, and forests).[2] It was a ratite and a member of the Struthioniformes Order. The Struthioniformes are flightless birds with a sternum without a keel. They also have a distinctive palate. The origin of these birds is becoming clearer as it is now believed that early ancestors of these birds were able to fly and flew to the southern areas that they have been found.[2]
The Heavy-Footed Moa was about 1.8 m (5.9 ft) tall, and weighed as much as 145 kg (320 lb)[3].
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The Heavy-Footed Moa was discovered by W.B.D. Mantell at Awamoa, near Oamaru, and the bones were taken by him to England. Bones from multiple birds were used to make a full skeleton, which was then put in the British Museum. The name Dinornis elephantopus was given by Richard Owen.[3]