Megalapteryx ‭(‬.a.k.a.‭ ‬Upland Moa‭)

Meg-ah-lap-teh-riks.
By Emily Green
Published on

Emily Green

Paleobotanist

Emily Green brings the ancient world of plants to life through her insightful research and engaging writing. Her expertise lies in examining how prehistoric vegetation influenced climate patterns and animal evolution.

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Green, E. (2013, December 21). Megalapteryx ‭(‬.a.k.a.‭ ‬Upland Moa‭). Prehistoric-wildlife. https://www.prehistoric-wildlife.com/species/megalapteryx-a-k-a-upland-moa/

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Name

Megalapteryx.

Phonetic

Meg-ah-lap-teh-riks.

Named By

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Aves,‭ ‬Paleognathae,‭ ‬Dinornithiformes,‭ ‬Megalapterygidae.

Diet

Herbivore.

Species

Size

Just under‭ ‬1‭ ‬meter tall.

Known locations

New Zealand,‭ ‬South Island.

Time Period

Pleistocene to Holocene,‭ ‬believed to be extinct by‭ ‬1500AD.

Fossil representation

Remains of many individuals including mummified remains of soft tissues and a partial egg.

In Depth

Further Reading

-‭ ‬Mummified moa remains from Mt Owen,‭ ‬northwest Nelson‭ ‬-‭ ‬Notornis‭ ‬36‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬36‭–‬38.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Trevor H.‭ ‬Worthy‭ ‬-‭ ‬1989. -‭ ‬Unique,‭ ‬dark olive-green moa eggshell from Redcliffe Hill,‭ ‬Rakaia Gorge,‭ ‬Canterbury‭ ‬-‭ ‬Notornis‭ ‬39‭ (‬1‭)‬:‭ ‬63‭–‬65.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Beverley McCulloch‭ ‬-‭ ‬1992. -‭ ‬Plant remains in coprolites:‭ ‬diet of a subalpine moa‭ (‬Dinornithiformes‭) ‬from southern New Zealand.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Emu Austral Ornithology‭ ‬-‭ ‬Mark Horrocks,‭ ‬Donna D’Costa,‭ ‬Rod Wallace,‭ ‬Rhys Gardner‭ & ‬Renzo Kondo‭ ‬-‭ ‬2004.

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