Moas

Moas were unique among flightless birds, having lost any trace that they once had wings. Not even tiny wing bones or a wishbone were left. As well as bones, mummified moas and well preserved feathers have been found. The moa became extinct when people discovered and colonised New Zealand in the 13th century and began to hunt them. Fragments have been found at many sites, including prehistoric Maori settlements, where the eggs had been cooked and eaten. Related to the ostriches and emus, there were 11 species of moa, from the turkey-sized Euryapteryx curtus to the huge Dinornis giganteus.

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