| Crested Moa | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Superorder: | Paleognathae |
| Order: | Dinornithiformes |
| Family: | Anomalopteryginae |
| Genus: | Pachyornis |
| Species: | P. australis (Oliver, 1949)[1] |
| Binomial name | |
| Pachyornis australis (Oliver, 1949)[1] |
|
The Crested Moa, Pachyornis australis, is a species of Moa from the family Dinornithidae. It is one of the 11 known species of Moa to have existed. Moa are grouped together with Emus, Ostriches, Kiwis, Cassowaries, and Rheas in the Ratite group. Ratites are flightless birds that do not have a keeled sternum.[2]
Contents |
The Crested Moa weighed around 75 kg (170 lb), and lived on the South Island of New Zealand – being the dominant species in both the far north and far south of this island. It could live in cold alpine terrain.
The Crested Moa was, like most species of Moa, a huge bird, though it was lighter than some of the other large species.
The name Crested Moa is due to pits being found in their skulls, suggesting they had crests. These cranial pits are also found occasionally in Dinornis, Anomalopteryx, and other Pachyornis species.[3]