Top Ten Things
that everyone should know about Moa
- 1. They’re extinct.
- For several hundred years, at least.
- 2. Some were BIG.
- As big as Big Bird from Sesame Street. But the smallest were turkey-sized.
- 3. They were eaten to extinction.
- By indigenous Maori, along with much else.
- 4. There were 10 different species (not 13, or 26, or 38).
- And the two largest have famles twice the size of males.
- 5. They were ratites.
- Other ratites include ostrich, emu, cassowary, rhea, and kiwi.
- 6. Most lived in forest, not grassland.
- They weren't feathered cows. And there was no grassland to speak of.
- 7. They probably didn’t stand around with their heads in the air.
- Unlike some museum mounts. It makes them look impressive, though.
- 8. You can still find their bones.
- Mostly in caves, swamps and sand dunes.
- 9. They aren’t the only extinct New Zealand bird.
- Geese, ducks, rails, adzebill, wrens, swan, pelican, eagle etc etc.
- 10. Moa (sing. and pl.) is pronounced more like MORE than MOWER.
- Despite colloquial kiwi accents.
Want to know more? Clicking a keyword takes you to an expanded entry, with some justifications for these rash statements, and maybe even references.