![]() But greater than the number of living species is the number of extinct species, which used to inhabit the islands from Madagascar to New Zealand even within the memory of man and it is among these that we become acquainted with by far the largest representatives of the family of giant birds. Among all these the African ostrich, 6 to 7 feet high, is known to be by far the largest and most numerous species. In all there are only about 12 species known two, perhaps three species of ostrich in Africa, three cassuary species 1 in southern Asia, two Emu's (Dromaeus) in Australia, an East and a West Australian, three species Rhea in South America, and three or four species of Kiwi (Apteryx) in New Zealand. The number of species living is very small. In 1867, Ferdinand von Hochstetter's book "New Zealand" also mentioned the Elephant Bird in Chapter IX "Kiwi and Moa, the wingless Birds of New Zealand" and suggested it still survived: However, it was also specialised to an island environment with no large predators and was, therefore, not adapted to survive contact with aggressive European humans. The fact that it had existed for 60 million years (much longer than humans) and adapted to a changing world, shows it to have been a very successful species. The island would have supported only a small, slow-breeding population and the birds were probably driven into extinction by hunting and the theft of their eggs by humans. The photo here is of a replica exhibited at Ipswich Museum, Ipswich, Suffolk, UK. Fossilised eggs are still found buried on the island. This is the equivalent of 200 hen's eggs and three times the size of the eggs of the largest dinosaurs. ![]() Their eggs had a circumference of about 3 ft (91 cm), were about 13 inches (33 cm) long and a capacity of 2 imperial gallons (9 litres). They stood 10 ft (3 metres) tall and weighed approximately 1000 lbs (455 kg) although some moas were taller, the elephant bird was more robustly built. The birds resembled heavily built ostriches, with small heads, vestigial wings, and long, powerful legs. It had little to fear from other native creatures on Madagascar it was protected by its huge size and if needs be, could use its feet and heavy beak to protect itself in conflicts with others of its own kind. ![]() In spite of its fearsome appearance (the legendary roc was fierce and ate elephants), it was a herbivore. It had evolved at a time when birds ruled the earth and had probably existed on Madagascar for 60 million years. Its body was covered in bristling, hair-like feathers, like those of the emu, and its beak resembled a broad-headed spear. It had massive legs and taloned claws, vestigial wings and a long, powerful neck. It was a ratite, related to ostriches and emus, though it was unlikely to have been a swift runner. The elephant bird was the largest bird ever to have lived. In the face of human hunters, the elephant bird was retreating to remoter regions. The first French Governor of Madagascar and Director of the French East India Company, Étienne de Flacourt, wrote, in 1658, "vouropatra - a large bird which haunts the Ampatres and lays eggs like the ostriches so that the people of these places may not take it, it seeks the most lonely places". The French established a settlement in 1642, by which time the Elephant Bird had become very rare. In the 16th century, Dutch, Portuguese and French sailors returned from the Indian Ocean with huge eggs taken as curios. Dutch and French expeditions established coastal settlements after 1509, penetrating the interior 150 years later. The first Europeans to visit the island were the Portuguese in 1500. The Malagasy people had had contact with Arab traders over several centuries, but had fiercely resisted colonisation. In chapter 33, "Concerning the Island of Madagascar" he wrote that the Great Khan had sent him to investigate curious reports of giant birds. In 1298, while imprisoned in Genoa, Marco Polo wrote his memoirs, covering 26 years of travel. During the 9th century, Saracen and Indian traders visited Madagascar and other parts of the African coast and would have encountered these birds. Legends of the giant roc (rukh) in Arab folklore were probably based on the elephant bird. Madagascar was settled around 2000 years ago by African and Indonesian peoples. The Elephant Bird (Aepyornis maximus) inhabited the island of Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. ![]() Rare & Extinct Creatures - Moa & Elephant Bird
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