Page 57 - Prehistoric Animals

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Euryapteryx

Euryapteryx, (Broad wing) is an extinct species
of moa, found only in New Zealand. It lived in the Pleis-
tocene period through to the Holocene, and was proba-
th
bly extinct by around the 14 to 15 century.
th

It was first named in 1846 by Richard Owen; Eu-
ryapteryx curtus. Since then it has been labelled as,
broad-billed moa, stout-legged moa and coastal moa*.
However, at the moment, E. curtus is the only species of
the genus Euryapteryx. A contender, E. gravis, was
found to be the same species as E. curtus, with only a
marginal difference. Now, combined as one species, it
was thought pertinent to differentiate between them
and labelled E. gravis as, stout-legged moa and E. cur-
tus, coastal moa.

Euryapteryx was widespread across New Zealand
occupying all three islands, North, South and Stewart
Island. This dispersal across New Zealand led to some
small differences in height and appearance of the birds.
However, on average it was around 1 meter tall with fe-
males being slightly taller than the males. It was in gen-
eral a stocky built bird, with legs to match and had a
large broad beak. As an herbivore the beak would have
been ideal for scavenging amongst vegetation. It may
also, as many birds did, have had a diet of selected in-
sects.

Euryapteryx was a ratite; a flightless bird. Its
presence on all the islands, especially those in the
south, has led to the general acceptance that its distant
ancestors did fly. Its eventual flightless status could be
due partially to the lack of natural predators on the is-
lands of New Zealand. For millions of year Euryapteryx,
along with many other birds lived and developed on the
islands of New Zealand trouble free. With the arrival of
man, the most cunning and ruthless hunter/killer, the
defenceless Euryapteryx future was sealed and it was
hunted into extinction.

*The Māori had a special name for the birds, Moa
Hakahaka