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Like the cassowaries, ostriches, rheas, emu and kiwis, the Elephant bird was a ratite; it could not fly, and its breast bone had no keel. Because Madagascar and Africa separated before the ratite lineage arose, [7] Aepyornis and other elephant birds are thought to have dispersed and become flightless and gigantic in situ. [8]
Elephant birds have been extinct since at least the 17th century. Étienne de Flacourt, a French governor of Madagascar during the 1640s and 1650s, mentioned an ostrich-like bird, said to inhabit unpopulated regions, although it is unclear whether he was repeating folk tales from generations earlier.
The extinction of the elephant bird is attributed to human activity. The birds were once widespread, but deforestation and the hunting of the bird's eggs led to the species' decline. [3] Attenborough compares the factors that led to the extinction of the elephant bird with the threats facing critically endangered species in the present. [3]
The elephant birds of Madagascar †Aepyornithidae - greater elephant birds †Aepyornis. Giant elephant bird, Aepyornis maximus – a 2018 study moved the largest elephant bird specimens to the genus Vorombe, [4] but a 2023 genetic study regarded Vorombe as synonymous with Aepyornis maximus [5] Hildebrandt's elephant bird, Aepyornis hildebrandti
Eight of the extinct bird species were found in Hawaii, including the Po`ouli, which was last seen in 2004. The Po`ouli is the most recently seen species of all 21 animals on the list.
The largest bird in the fossil record may be the extinct elephant birds (Aepyornithidae) of Madagascar, which were related to the kiwis. Aepyornis exceeded 3 m (9.8 ft) in height and 500 kg (1,100 lb), while Vorombe could reach a similar height and a mass of 732 kg (1,614 lb). [174] The last of the elephant birds became extinct about 300 years ago.
The Fish and Wildlife Service just delisted 21 species from the Endangered Species Act due to extinction. Skip to main content. Sign in. Mail. 24/7 Help. For premium support please call: ...
Given an estimated global population of less than 500,000, it is believed that elephants are nearing extinction. Elephants are among the strongest in the animal kingdom and the second tallest ...