The Moa were a large three-toed ostrich-like flightless bird that lived in New Zealand until they were hunted to extinction by the Maori people. The largest species Dinornis robustus reached up to 3.6 m (12 ft) in height and weighed up to 230 kg (510 lb).
Moa were herbivorous eating leaves buds fruit and twigs. They had a long necks which they used to reach high into trees to browse on leaves and buds. They had strong legs which they used to kick at predators or to run from them. Moa were solitary birds and did not live in flocks.
The first European to describe the Moa was Captain James Cook who saw some bones on the beach at Dusky Sound in Fiordland in 1773. He thought they might have come from a giant bird but he was not sure. In 1839 the Rev. Walter Mantell found some more bones which he showed to Richard Owen the famous English scientist. Owen realized that the bones were from a huge extinct bird and he gave the bird its scientific name Dinornis meanus.
Moa bones were first found in caves in the North Island of New Zealand in the 1830s. These bones were different from the bones found by Captain Cook and Mantell and they were named Euryapteryx curtus. More bones were found in the south of the North Island and these were named Euryapteryx geranoides.
At first scientists thought that the Moa were related to the ostrich but they now know that the Moa are more closely related to the kiwi. The Moa belong to a group of birds called the ratites which also includes the ostrich the emu the rhea and the kiwi.
The Moa were hunted to extinction by the Maori people who arrived in New Zealand about 800 years ago. The Moa were an important part of the Maori diet and they were also hunted for their feathers which were used to make cloaks. The last Moa is thought to have been killed in the early 1600s.
The extinction of the Moa has been blamed on the Maori but it is also possible that the Moa were already in decline before the Maori arrived. The Moa may have been affected by changes in the climate or by the arrival of other animals such as rats that competed with them for food.
Today the Moa is an important part of New Zealand’s history and its extinction is a reminder of the need to conserve our natural heritage.
What is the name of the largest living bird?
The ostrich.
What is the name of the flightless bird that is most closely related to the ostrich?
The rhea.
What is the name of the bird that is the fastest two-legged runner in the world?
The ostrich.
How fast can an ostrich run?
Ostriches can run up to 70 kilometers per hour.
How far can an ostrich see?
Ostriches can see up to 3 kilometers away.
How long is an ostrich’s neck?
Ostriches have necks that are about 150 centimeters long.
How long are an ostrich’s legs?
Ostriches have legs that are about 2 meters long.
What does an ostrich eat?
Ostriches eat plants insects and small animals.
Where do ostriches live?
Ostriches live in Africa.
How many eggs does an ostrich lay?
Ostriches can lay up to 20 eggs at a time.
How big are ostrich eggs?
Ostrich eggs are about 15 centimeters long and weigh about 1.
5 kilograms.
How long does it take for an ostrich egg to hatch?
It takes about 42 days for an ostrich egg to hatch.
How long do ostriches live?
Ostriches can live up to 40 years.
What is the name of the only other living species in the genus Struthio?
The Somali ostrich.
How many toes does an ostrich have?
Ostriches have two toes on each foot.
