Genyornis
Genyornis newtoni
Genyornis and its relatives have been nick-named the 'demon ducks'.
Lived: 1,600,000- 40,000 years ago (Pleistocene)
Bones of Genyornis have been found with human artefacts, indicating that the last of the thunder birds overlapped with Australia's first people.
Meaning of scientific name
Genyornis = "jaw bird".
Statistics
Height: 2.2m, Weight: 200-250kg.
Physical Description
Genyornis was a large, flightless bird that stood about as tall as a male ostrich but was twice the weight. It had an enormous beak, which appears to be similar in design to the nut-cracking beaks of seed- and fruit-eating birds such as parrots. Its toes had hoof-like claws on the tips. Genyornis was the last of the large flightless thunder birds.
Distribution
They are known from several sites in the centre and south of Australia. Skeletons of Genyornis have been found at sites including Lake Callabonna and Naracoorte Caves in South Australia, and Wellington Caves and Cuddie Springs in New South Wales. Eggshell fragments have also been found.
Habitat
Genyornis fossils have been found in the south and east of Australia, in areas that were arid at the time the bird lived. Desert grasslands or scrub and, perhaps, dry woodlands would have been Genyornis’ habitat.
Diet
They were primarily herbivores but many have supplemented their diet by scavenging or grabbing small prey. Because they had no teeth, they had to swallow stones to assist in grinding up food in their gizzards.
Behaviour
They were browsers, taking advantage of their height to feed on the higher branches of trees and shrubs. As they were very heavily built, they were not fast movers.
Reproduction
Fossils of Genyornis eggs have been found.
Conservation status
Genyornis are extinct.
Best place to see
Skeletons of Genyornis are on display at Monash Science Centre, Monash University, Clayton in Victoria State, Australia and the South Australia Museum, Adelaide.
Closest relative
Ducks and geese (Anseriformes) are the closest relatives of Genyornis.
