Dinornis giganteus was one of the largest of the moa - flightless birds related to the ostriches and emus. It became extinct when people discovered and colonised New Zealand in the 13th century.

Meaning of scientific name
Dinornis = 'surprising bird' or 'terrible bird'. Giganteus = 'giant'.

Statistics
Body weight: an average moa weighed about 117kg, but the heaviest could have weighed slightly over 200kg. Height: about 2m at the midpoint of the back.

Physical description
Dinornis giganteus was one of the largest of the flightless birds called moa. Like all moa it had a small head, a broad flattened beak and small eyes. It had a long neck and a hefty body, supported by thick legs. It had well-developed nostrils and nasal bones, so it probably had a very good sense of smell. Moa are unique amongst flightless birds because they have lost any trace that they once had wings - not even tiny wing bones or a wishbone are left.

Distribution
Dinornis giganteus lived in the North Island of New Zealand. There is debate over whether the giant moas found in South Island are the same species, or have enough genetic and skeletal differences to be considered as a separate species, named Dinornis maximus.

Habitat
Forests, shrubland and some grasslands.

Diet
The preserved stomach contents of Dinornis giganteus show that it snipped twigs off plants such as the daisy-bush, Olearia, and ate them. It also ate berries and leaves. Like many birds, it had to swallow stones to grind up the food in its gizzard. Stones polished smooth by being rubbed together in the gizzard are often found with moa skeletons.

Behaviour
It normally browsed on food about 2m off the ground. If it leaned back and stretched out its neck, it could pluck food as high up as 3m.

Reproduction
Moa only laid one or two eggs at a time. Eggshell fragments have been found at many sites, including at prehistoric Maori settlements, where they had been cooked and eaten. Dinornis giganteus eggs measured 240mm long and 178mm wide.

Conservation status
Moa are extinct.

Notes
There were 11 species of moa, from the turkey-sized Euryapteryx curtus to the huge Dinornis giganteus. As well as bones, mummified moa and well preserved feathers have been found.

Closest relative
Moa are ratite birds. The living ratites birds are the tinamou, rhea, cassowary, ostrich, emu and kiwi.