Dromornis
|
---|
|
Cast of the extinct Dromornis stirtoni from Australia |
Scientific classification |
---|
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | †Dromornis
|
Dromornis stirtoni restoration
Dromornis is a genus of fossil flightless birds. It lived in Australia from the late Miocene to the early Pliocene. This means early humans never met this animal.
Dromornis had a huge beak and jaw capable of great force. It did not have the typical beak and claws of a carnivore, and its life style is not certain. Though they looked like giant emus, the Dromornis are more closely related to geese.
Dromornis stirtoni was three metres (10 feet) tall and weighed up to half a ton (500 kilos). It inhabited subtropical open woodland in Australia during the late Miocene. It may have been partly carnivorous. It was heavier than the Moa and taller than Aepyornis.