P. elephantopus skeleton photographed by Roger Fenton
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Infraclass:
Palaeognathae
Order:
†Dinornithiformes
Family:
†Emeidae
Genus:
†Pachyornis (Lydekker, 1891)
Species
Pachyornis elephantopus Heavy-footed Moa
Pachyornis australis Crested Moa
Pachyornis geranoides Mantell's Moa
Pachyornis new lineage A (undescribed taxon)
Pachyornis new lineage B (undescribed taxon)
Pachyornis is an extinct genus of ratites from New Zealand which belonged to the moa family. Like all ratites it was a member of the order Struthioniformes. The Struthioniformes are flightless birds with a sternum without a keel. They also have a distinctive palate.[1] This genus contains three species,[1] and are part of the Anomalopteryginae or lesser moa subfamily. Pachyornis moa were the stoutest and most heavy-legged genus of the family, the most notable species being Pachyornis elephantopus - the heavy-footed moa. They were generally similar to the eastern moa or the broad-billed moa of the genus Euryapteryx, but differed in having a pointed bill and being more heavyset in general. At least one species (P. australis) is assumed to have had a crest of long feathers on its head.[2] The species became rapidly extinct following human colonization of New Zealand, with the possible exception of P. australis, which may have already been extinct by then - although the most recent moa skeleton ever described is a partial skeleton of this species, radiocarbon dated to between 1396 and 1442. [unreliable source?]
Two new genetic lineages, which may eventually be described as new species, are now known to have existed, one each from New Zealand's North and South Island.[3]
Restoration of Dinornis giganteus and Pachyornis elephantopus, both from South Island
^ abDavies, S. J. J. F. (2003). "Moas". In Hutchins, Michael (ed.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Vol. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins (2 ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 95–98. ISBN 0-7876-5784-0.
^Tennyson, Alan; Martinson, Paul (2006-01-01). Extinct Birds of New Zealand. Te Papa Press. ISBN 978-0-909010-21-8.
^Baker, Allan J.; Huynen, Leon J.; Haddrath, Oliver; Millar, Craig D.; Lambert, David M. (2005). "Reconstructing the tempo and mode of evolution in an extinct clade of birds with ancient DNA: The giant moas of New Zealand" (PDF). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 102 (23): 8257–8262. Bibcode:2005PNAS..102.8257B. doi:10.1073/pnas.0409435102. PMC 1149408. PMID 15928096.
moa subfamily. Pachyornis moa were the stoutest and most heavy-legged genus of the family, the most notable species being Pachyornis elephantopus - the...
Island, New Zealand) Genus Pachyornis Heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (South Island, New Zealand) Mantell's moa, Pachyornis geranoides (North Island...
Pachyornis species. The crested moa weighed around 75 kg (165 lb).[citation needed] The crested moa was smaller than the heavy-footed moa (Pachyornis...
the bird species of the family Dinornithidae. †Pachyornis elephantopus †Pachyornis mappini †Pachyornis australis †Euryapteryx curtus †Emeus crassus †Anomalopteryx...
Island, New Zealand) Genus Pachyornis Heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (South Island, New Zealand) Mantell's moa, Pachyornis geranoides (North Island...
Distribution Heavy-footed Moa Pachyornis elephantopus EX lived in lowlands of New Zealand's South Island Mantell's moa Pachyornis geranoides EX lived in lowlands...
Island, New Zealand) †Pachyornis Crested moa, Pachyornis australis (western South Island, New Zealand) Heavy-footed moa, Pachyornis elephantopus (eastern...
Islands Possibly disease spread by introduced rats. 1278-1415 Mantell's moa Pachyornis geranoides North Island, New Zealand Hunting. 1286-1390 North Island giant...
Global Information
Restoration of Dinornis giganteus and Pachyornis elephantopus, both from South Island