Mobile Menu Open Mobile Menu Close
back back back

A re-examination of the moa genus Megalapteryx

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    1988

  • Author(s)

    T.H. Worthy

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    35, 2

  • Pagination

    99-108

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

moa; Megalapteryx didinus; Megalapteryx benhami


A re-examination of the moa genus Megalapteryx

Notornis, 35 (2), 99-108

T.H. Worthy (1988)

Article Type: Paper

Attachment


Download

A re-examination of the moa genus Megalapteryx reveals that the two currently accepted species, M. didinus (Owen) and M. benhami Archey, do not differ in the shape of the bones. They represent small and large specimens in an unbroken size continuum. Specimens from northwest Nelson have a larger mean size than those in a sample from Takahe Valley, Fiordland. A series of 14C dates indicates that the largest ‘M. benhami‘ are all of Otiran derivation, whereas M. didinus bones are from Otiran and Holocene deposits. Therefore M. benhami is synonymised with the upland moa, M. didinus (Owen).