When Birds Stopped Flying

PBS Eons・2 minutes read

Giant Moas were attacked by Haast Eagles in New Zealand, flightless ratites evolved from flying ancestors independently, and overhunting by humans led to their extinction.

Insights

  • Genetic research in 2014 debunked the Moa's Ark hypothesis by revealing that ratites on the same continent were not closely related, indicating multiple independent evolutions of flightlessness.
  • Flightlessness in ratites may have been a response to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, creating ecological niches, and overhunting by humans led to the extinction of Moas and elephant birds due to their slow reproductive rate.

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Recent questions

  • What are ratites?

    Flightless birds like ostriches and emus.

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Summary

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Evolution of Flightless Birds: A Global Journey

  • A North Island Giant Moa, a 3-meter-tall bird, was attacked and killed by a Haast Eagle in New Zealand.
  • Ratites, including ostriches, emus, cassowaries, and kiwis, are flightless birds that have spread worldwide.
  • The Moa's Ark hypothesis suggested that flightless birds colonized the world from a common ancestor.
  • Genetic research in 2014 revealed that ratites on the same continent were not closely related.
  • Ratites evolved from flying ancestors and independently lost flight at least 6 times.
  • The oldest ratites, the Lithornithids, originated in North America and flew to different continents.
  • Flightlessness in ratites may have evolved due to the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, creating ecological niches.
  • Overhunting by humans led to the extinction of Moas and elephant birds due to their inability to reproduce quickly.
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