‭ ‬Aves - Prehistoric-Wildlife

Pachyornis Including P.‭ ‬elephantopus‭ (‬Heavy-footed Moa‭)‬,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬geranoides‭ (‬Mantell’s Moa‭)‬,‭ ‬and P.‭ ‬australis‭ (‬Crested Moa‭)‬.

In Depth The Pachyornis genus of moa has a taxonomic history going all the way back to the early days of moa study,‭ ‬though like with many other moa genera,‭ ‬the first remains of Pachyornis were attributed to the Dinornis genus.‭ ‬The Pachyornis genus was spread across virtually all of New Zealand,‭ ‬with P.‭ ‬australis being most common in the northern and southern regions of South Island,‭ ‬P.‭ … Read more

Megalapteryx (‬.a.k.a.‭ ‬Upland Moa‭)

In Depth Though not as famous as Dinornis,‭ ‬the Megalapteryx genus is just as if not even more important to our understanding of moa birds.‭ ‬ Megalapteryx is one of the few moa,‭ ‬in‭ ‬fact one of the few prehistoric animals,‭ ‬to be known by mummified remains of soft tissue.‭ ‬ Mummification is essentially where all moisture is drawn out of … Read more

Phorusrhacos

In Depth Like similar predatory birds of its day,‭ ‬Phorusrhacos‭ ‬was‭ ‬flightless with its wings greatly reduced in size.‭ ‬The wings of Phorusrhacos also had sharp hooks that seem to be more suited for gripping.‭ ‬These hooks have been suggested as being used to secure struggling prey as Phorusrhacos dispatched it with its beak,‭ ‬but … Read more

Aquila bullockensis

In Depth Further Reading -‭ ‬A New Eagle‭ (‬Aves:‭ ‬Accipitridae‭) ‬from the Mid Miocene Bullock Creek Fauna of Northern Australia,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Gaff‭ & ‬W.‭ ‬E.‭ ‬Boles‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

Argentavis

In Depth Take off and Flight With a wingspan estimated at seven meters across,‭ ‬Argentavis was roughly twice the size of the largest flying bird today‭ (‬Wandering Albatross‭)‬,‭ ‬and only the long extinct pterosaurs could have rivalled and exceeded it for size.‭The genus Pelagornis is a possible contender to be roughly equal in size or … Read more

Zhongornis

In Depth Known from a single juvenile preserved on a slab,‭ ‬Zhongornis has been seen as an intermediary form between more primitive forms like Archaeopteyx which have long bony tails,‭ ‬and more advanced forms like Confuciusornis which had shorter bony tails. Further Reading -‭ ‬A new basal lineage of Early Cretaceous birds from China and … Read more

Nambashag

In Depth Nambashag is a genus of cormorant that lived in Australia during the Oligocene/Miocene. Further Reading -‭ ‬Descriptions and phylogenetic relationships of a new genus and two new species of Oligo-Miocene cormorants‭ (‬Aves:‭ ‬Phalacrocoracidae‭) ‬from Australia.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society‭ ‬163‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬277‭–‬314.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Trevor H.‭ ‬Worthy‭ ‬-‭ ‬2011.

Brontornis

In Depth Brontornis was easily one of the largest of the known South American‭ ‘‬terror birds‭’‬,‭ ‬and as a member of the Brontornithinae it is noted as being one of the most robust in build.‭ ‬Whereas some terror birds could use their speed to run down prey,‭ ‬Brontornis would have been more suited to ambush … Read more

Anomalopteryx a.k.a.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Lesser Moa,‭ ‬Little Bush Moa,‭ ‬Bush Moa.

In Depth Originally named as a species of Dinornis by Richard Owen in‭ ‬1844,‭ ‬Anomalopteryx was established as a valid genus a few years later by Ludwig Reichenbach.‭ ‬ Different genera of moa are noted for specialising between differing habitats,‭ ‬and Anomalopteryx is so far known to have lived in lowland forests where it would have browsed upon shrubs and low growing trees.‭ … Read more

Xiangornis

In Depth Xiangornis is a genus of enantiornithine bird from the early Cretaeous of China.‭ ‬The enantiornithine birds are considered separate from the ornithomorph birds,‭ ‬yet Xiangornis shows features that are common to both groups.‭ ‬Though this could simply be a case of convergent evolution with similar features being adapted by both groups,‭ ‬it has … Read more