Dinornis Collection

Extinct / Dinornis / Moa
dinornis giganteis - a reconstruction based on bones discovered

Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892)
Portrait of Sir Richard Owen, an English biologist, comparative anatomist and palaeontologist. Picture shows Owen and the skeleton of Dinornis maximus, c. 1877. From The Life of Owen (1894)

Extinct dinornis or moa, aepyornis ingens
An artists impression of how the extinct dinornis or moa (aepyornis ingens), a genus of flightless birds native to Madagascar, might have looked

Fossil Foot of Dinornis, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Fossil Foot of Dinornis, 1850. Lecture by Gideon Algernon Mantell on the extinct gigantic birds of New Zealand. The most extraordinary relics obtained from this spot were the entire series of bones

Comparative Sizes of Dinornis, Ostrich, and New Zealander, 1850. Creator: Unknown
Comparative Sizes of Dinornis, Ostrich, and New Zealander, 1850....a lecture on the extinct gigantic birds of New Zealand, by Dr

South Island Giant Moa (Dinornis robustus) Right Leg, Castle Hill Station, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand
This extinct, flightless bird lived in New Zealand. The largest of the species reached 3.6 meters and its only predator was the Hst eagle, until the first Polynesian settlers arrived in the 1200s

The Canterbury Museum, New Zealand (engraving)
1588523 The Canterbury Museum, New Zealand (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Canterbury Museum, New Zealand)

Prehistoric animals (engraving)
6001976 Prehistoric animals (engraving) by German School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Prehistoric animals)

Moa-Birds (litho)
5209882 Moa-Birds (litho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Moa-Birds. Dinornis giganteus, Height 12 feet. D elephantopus, A smaller species)

Skeleton of the dinornis, a gigantic bird of New Zealand (engraving)
604089 Skeleton of the dinornis, a gigantic bird of New Zealand (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Skeleton of the dinornis)

Skeleton of the Dinornis, in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (engraving)
1618694 Skeleton of the Dinornis, in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Skeleton of the Dinornis)

Leg of the Dinornis, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand (engraving)
1623710 Leg of the Dinornis, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Leg of the Dinornis, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand)

The Moa, Dinornis (engraving)
965334 The Moa, Dinornis (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Moa, Dinornis)

Aepyornis Ingens Moa
An artists impression of how aepyornis ingens, a genus of flightless birds native to Madagascar, might have looked

Moa, Dinornis novaezealandiae, extinct giant bird of New Zealand.. Colour printed (chromolithograph) illustration by F. John from Tiere der Urwelt Animals of the Prehistoric World, 1910, Hamburg

Moa birds, Dinornis robustus, being hunted by men with bows and arrows.. The moa were flightless birds native to New Zealand, hunted to extinction by the Maoris

Skeletons of the Dinornis in the Canterbury Museum, New Zealand, 1868

Leg of the Dinornis, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand, 1865

Picture No. 10860973
Black & White Illustration: Moa skeleton with man (Dinornis maximus) Date:

Leg of the Dinornis, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand, 1865

Skeletons of the Dinornis in the Canterbury Museum, New Zealand, 1868

Dinoris sp. moa skeletons
Inscribed J. Benjamin Stone, July 1907. Held in the Natural History Museum Archive PH 128/6

Dinornis elephantopus, heavy-footed moa
An extinct wingless bird from the superficial deposits of the middle island of New Zealand in the gallery of Fossils, British Museum, height of skeleton 5 ft 6 in. 1858. NHM Archives 1210 1/11

Dinornis giganteus, giant moa
Specimen of the extinct bird the giant moa (Dinornis giganteus), the largest bird that ever lived

1851 Dinornis Moa Skull discovery
Skull of Moa or Dinornis discovered by Mr. Walter Mantell in.the North Island of New Zealand. Plate with later tinting, from Gideom Mantells petrifactions and their teachings (1851)

Giant moa and prehistoric cow, artwork
Giant moa (Dinornis) and prehistoric cow (Bos pallasii), 19th century artwork. Artwork from the 1886 ninth edition of Moses and Geology (Samuel Kinns, London)

Leg Bones of the Dinornis Maximus, 1865
Engraving showing a Victorian gentleman holding the leg bones of a Dinornis Maximus, or Gigantic Bird of New Zealand, pictured in 1865

Dinornis Giganteus
A DINORNIS GIGANTEUS (giant moa) is about to be attacked by a native New Zealander, while a smaller DINORNIS ELEPHANTOPUS browses in the background

Dinornis Maximus
Sir Richard Owen poses beside the skeleton of a moa (dinornis maximus)

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

"Dinornis: The Majestic Giants of the Past" Step back in time and discover the incredible world of Dinornis, a group of extinct flightless birds commonly known as Moa. These magnificent creatures once roamed the lands of New Zealand, captivating both scientists and enthusiasts alike. Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), a renowned British paleontologist, first classified these fascinating creatures. He named them Dinornis, derived from Greek words meaning "terrible bird. " With their towering height and impressive size, it's no wonder they earned such a fearsome title. Among the various species that existed, Aepyornis ingens was one of the most remarkable. Known as the South Island Giant Moa or Dinornis robustus, this particular breed possessed an imposing right leg discovered at Castle Hill Station in Canterbury on New Zealand's South Island. The Canterbury Museum proudly showcases remnants of these prehistoric animals through engravings and lithographs. Visitors can marvel at illustrations depicting Moa-Birds and skeletons found within its walls. The museum also houses an engraving showcasing the skeleton held by none other than London's Royal College of Surgeons. These engravings provide us with glimpses into what life may have been like during this ancient era. They depict massive birds with long legs and powerful bodies roaming vast landscapes that are now lost to time. Sadly, today we can only imagine witnessing these giants firsthand as they became extinct centuries ago due to human activity and environmental changes. However, their legacy lives on through scientific discoveries and our ongoing fascination with these colossal avian beings. Let us continue to explore their history while cherishing our responsibility to protect Earth's precious biodiversity for future generations – ensuring that no more majestic creatures like Dinornis fade away into oblivion.