Giant moa

Extinct in 1445

Giant moa in LOST ZOO

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    Giant moa

    The Giant moa were in the past the dominant and largest herbivores in New Zealand's forests and shrub land.

    Giant moa

    The Giant moa’s vertebral articulation indicates that they probably carried their head forward in the manner of a kiwi. This allows them to graze on low-elevation vegetation, but also being able to lift their head and browse trees.

    Giant moa

    Giant moa had a pronounced sexual dimorphism. As females being up to 150% as tall and 280% as heavy as males, both sexes were formerly classified as separate species.

    Giant moa

    Before the arrival of human settlers, the moa's only predator was the massive Haast's eagle, which had become extinct along with the moa, because he had relied on them for food.

    Giant moa

    The both Giant moa species are endemic to New Zealand’s North or South Island. The moa look similar to an ostrich, but are the only real wingless birds which don’t have even any trace of a wing. Whereas the other 7 moa species had the size of a large turkey, the Giant moa were much larger.

    Body height: 3.6m

    Body weight: 230 kg

    Nest: The nest was a small depression scratched out in the soft dry soil. Plant material and clipped twigs were used to construct the nest platform. The eggs were 40 cm high and weighted 4.5 kg

    Habitat: On the South Island the dry rain shadow forest and shrub lands and especially the high rainfall west coast beech forests were the habitat of the South Island giant moa and on the North Island the North Island giant moa could be found in high rainfall forests.

    Extinction: Because of overhunting and habitat destruction, the Giant moa were driven to extinction, soon after the arrival of the Maoris in New. About 100 years later, in 1445 all the 9 moa species had become extinct.

    Giant moa