Dinornithidae Collection

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)

Moa bone fragment
First piece of moa bone, found between 1831 and 1836. The 15cm fragment comes from the species Dinornis novaezealandiae and is 0.01-1.8 million years old

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

Little Bush Moa
Illustration of a Little Bush Moa by James Erxleben

Pachyornis elephantopus, heavy-footed moa
Skeleton of a heavy-footed moa (Pachyornis elephantopus) specimen found in New Zealand during the Holocene period (10, 000 to present). See also T25118

Pachyornis elephantophus, moa bird
The giant extinct bird seen here is a Moa and is about 5000 years old, found exclusively in New Zealand

Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892) painted in 1844
Owen holds the leg bone of a moa, and is wearing robes of Professor of Comparative Anatomy at the Royal College of Surgeons. Oil painting by Henry William Pickersgill (1782-1875)

Upland Moa

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

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"Dinornithidae: Unraveling the Mysteries of New Zealand's Extinct Giants" Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), a renowned British paleontologist, played a crucial role in uncovering the fascinating story of Dinornithidae. These ancient birds, commonly known as moas, once roamed the lush forests of New Zealand. The discovery began with a mere bone fragment—a tantalizing clue that led scientists on an extraordinary journey. Moa bone fragments were found scattered across various locations, hinting at the existence of these colossal creatures. As more pieces were unearthed, their true magnitude became apparent. One species that captured attention was Dinornis elephantopus, also known as the heavy-footed moa. With its towering height and robust build, this bird must have been an awe-inspiring sight to behold. The skeletons revealed long legs and powerful feet adapted for traversing dense vegetation. As researchers delved deeper into their findings, they uncovered additional specimens belonging to different members of the Dinoris sp. , shedding light on the incredible diversity within this avian family. Each unique skeleton provided valuable insights into their physical characteristics and way of life. Amongst them all stood out Dinornis elephantopus—the heavyweight champion among moas—whose bones showcased exceptional strength and size compared to other species, and is believed that these giants could reach heights exceeding ten feet. However, not all moas were colossal in stature; some belonged to smaller species like Little Bush Moa or Pachyornis elephantopus—an intriguing contrast within this extinct lineage. Through meticulous study and analysis conducted by Sir Richard Owen and his contemporaries, we now have a clearer understanding of Dinornithidae's place in history. Their extinction remains shrouded in mystery but is thought to be linked to human arrival on New Zealand shores around 700 years ago.