Pile-builder Megapode

Megapodius molistructor is an extinct Großfußhuhn. The fossil remains were found by Jean -Christophe Balouet and Storrs Lovejoy Olson in caves in New Caledonia and Tonga.

Description

Megapodius molistructor reached a weight of 3.5 kg and was heavier than all the still existing Megapodes. In Tonga Megapodius molistructor was the largest ground-dwelling bird.

Extinction

When the early settlers ( BC from 1500) Tonga reached during the Lapita culture, they found only marine animals such as sea turtles and terrestrial birds with gigantism as rails, pigeons and Megapodes. The hunting of the birds for food procurement led to a rapid extinction of the avifauna.

In New Caledonia the Riesengroßfußhuhn could have existed until historical times. When William Anderson, who Sanitätsmaat on Resolution on James Cook's second Pacific voyage made ​​a stop in New Caledonia, he described a species of bird with featherless legs, which he called Tetrao australis. However, since all species of the genus Tetrao have feathered legs, it could be at Anderson's bird have traded a Großfußhuhn.