South Island giant moa

South Island giant moa

The largest species of moa was probably the South Island giant moa, Dinornis robustus. This species, along with the North Island moa (Dinornis novaezealandiae) used to be known as Dinornis giganteus. Its bones are commonly found in archaeological middens (ancient rubbish sites). This reconstruction shows that these moa were quite slender, with a flattened skull and beak.