Upland Moa

Head of a Waldmoas

The Waldmoa ( Megalapteryx didinus ) is an extinct species of bird endemic to New Zealand Order of Moa ( Dinornithiformes ).

Description

The Waldmoa was the smallest Moaart with a size of about 1.30 m and a weight of about 25 kg.

Habitat and behavior

The Waldmoa occurred in the higher and cooler regions of the South Island. He lived in the subalpine vegetation zone and fed on shrubs and wild herbs.

Extinction

The Waldmoa was the last Moaart, which became extinct. She disappeared about 1500. However, there are scientists who suggest that isolated populations may have survived until the early 19th century.

Several museum specimens with soft tissue and feather remains are known. The type specimen A16, which is in the British Museum, was found in 1876 in Queenstown. A leg with a lot of muscle, skin and feathers of Old Man Range ( C.68.2 ) is located in the Otago Museum, a skeleton with neck and head tissue from the area of ​​Cromwell ( NMNZ S400) and a foot with some muscles and tendons ( NMNZ S23080 ), which was found on January 7, 1987 at Mount Owen, located in Te Papa Tongarewa. The latter found object is dated to 3300-3400 years.

Remains of an incomplete egg ( Canterbury Museum NZ 1725), which were found in 1971 at the Rakaia River, have been tentatively attributed to this species. The radiocarbon dating for the period 1300 - 1400 agrees. The color of the eggs varied in some individuals. It ranged from beige and creamy white to light green.