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This article is about the extinct New Zealand birds known as moa. For other uses, see Moa (disambiguation).
Moa
Temporal range: Miocene - Holocene, 17–0.0006Ma
PreЄ
Є
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Megalapteryx.png
Restoration of an upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Superorder: Palaeognathae
Bonaparte, 1853[1]
Order: †Dinornithiformes
Bonaparte, 1853
Type species
†Dinornis novaezealandiae
Owen, 1843
Subgroups
See text
Diversity[2]
6 genera, 9 species
Synonyms
Dinornithes Gadow, 1893[3]
The moa[4][5] were nine species (in six genera) of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand.[6] The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis novaezelandiae, reached about 3.6 m (12 ft) in height with neck outstretched, and weighed about 230 kg (510 lb).[7]
Moa belong to the order Dinornithiformes, traditionally placed in the ratite group.[6] However, their closest relatives have been found by genetic studies to be the flighted South American tinamous, once considered to be a sister group to ratites.[8] The nine[6] species of moa were the only wingless birds, lacking even the vestigial wings which all other ratites have. They were the dominant herbivores in New Zealand's forest, shrubland and subalpine ecosystems for thousands of years, and until the arrival of the Māori were hunted only by the Haast's eagle. It is generally considered that most, if not all, species of moa died out by 1400 CE due to overhunting by the Māori and habitat decline.
Contents
1 Description 2 Evolutionary relationships 3 Classification 3.1 Taxonomy 3.2 Phylogeny 4 Distribution and habitat 4.1 South Island 4.2 North Island 5 Behaviour and ecology 5.1 Diet 5.2 Reproduction 6 Relationship with humans 6.1 Extinction 6.2 Surviving remains 6.3 Feathers and soft tissues
Moa
Temporal range: Miocene - Holocene, 17–0.0006Ma
PreЄ
Є
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Megalapteryx.png
Restoration of an upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Superorder: Palaeognathae
Bonaparte, 1853[1]
Order: †Dinornithiformes
Bonaparte, 1853
Type species
†Dinornis novaezealandiae
Owen, 1843
Subgroups
See text
Diversity[2]
6 genera, 9 species
Synonyms
Dinornithes Gadow, 1893[3]
The moa[4][5] were nine species (in six genera) of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand.[6] The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis novaezelandiae, reached about 3.6 m (12 ft) in height with neck outstretched, and weighed about 230 kg (510 lb).[7]
Moa belong to the order Dinornithiformes, traditionally placed in the ratite group.[6] However, their closest relatives have been found by genetic studies to be the flighted South American tinamous, once considered to be a sister group to ratites.[8] The nine[6] species of moa were the only wingless birds, lacking even the vestigial wings which all other ratites have. They were the dominant herbivores in New Zealand's forest, shrubland and subalpine ecosystems for thousands of years, and until the arrival of the Māori were hunted only by the Haast's eagle. It is generally considered that most, if not all, species of moa died out by 1400 CE due to overhunting by the Māori and habitat decline.
Contents
1 Description 2 Evolutionary relationships 3 Classification 3.1 Taxonomy 3.2 Phylogeny 4 Distribution and habitat 4.1 South Island 4.2 North Island 5 Behaviour and ecology 5.1 Diet 5.2 Reproduction 6 Relationship with humans 6.1 Extinction 6.2 Surviving remains 6.3 Feathers and soft tissues