Dinornithiformes 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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"Dinornithiformes: Unveiling the Enigmatic Giants of the Past" Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892), a renowned British paleontologist, played a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries surrounding Dinornithiformes. These fascinating creatures, commonly known as moas, once roamed the ancient landscapes of New Zealand. The discovery of a Moa bone fragment sparked Owen's curiosity and set him on an extraordinary journey to understand these extinct avian giants. Amongst them was the mighty Dinornis elephantopus, also referred to as the heavy-footed moa. Its colossal size and weight left scientists astounded. Numerous Moa bone fragments were meticulously studied by Owen, revealing astonishing details about their anatomy and lifestyle. The skeletons of Dinoris sp. , another species within this group, further added to our understanding. These impressive remains showcased intricate features that distinguished each species from one another. As research progressed, it became evident that Dinornis elephantopus reigned supreme among its kind – towering over other moas with its imposing stature, and is no wonder they were named "heavy-footed" due to their massive legs built for supporting such immense bodies. However, not all moas were behemoths like Dinornis elephantopus; some belonged to smaller species like Little Bush Moa or Pachyornis elephantopus. Despite their relatively diminutive size compared to their heavyweight relatives, they still possessed unique characteristics that made them equally captivating subjects for scientific study. Thanks to Sir Richard Owen's dedication and expertise in paleontology, we now have a clearer picture of these enigmatic giants from New Zealand's past – the majestic Dinornithiformes who once ruled those ancient lands with grace and power. Their story continues to captivate us today as we marvel at their incredible existence through fossilized remnants discovered throughout time.