Upland moa head

Upland moa head

This head of an upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was found in the 19th century in a cave near Cromwell, in Central Otago. It had been mummified by the dry, cold conditions of the cave. Unlike most other moa species, the upland moa had a sharp beak, and the comparative size of the eye sockets and nose suggest that its sense of smell was better than its eyesight.