Pachyornis (lat.) Is a genus of extinct birds from the Emeidae family of the order Moraiform , endemic to New Zealand .
| † Pachyornis |
Skeleton Pachyornis elephantopus |
| Scientific classification |
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| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
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| International scientific name |
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Pachyornis Lydekker , 1891 |
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This genus contains three species [1] and is part of the subfamily Anomalopteryginae. Pachyornis were the most massive and most thick-legged members of the family. The most prominent species is Pachyornis elephantopus . They were similar to Emeus crassus or southern moa , but differed in that they had a pointed beak and were more massive. At least one species ( P. australis ) is thought to have a crest of long feathers on its head.
It is currently known that there are two recently discovered genetic lines of Pachyornis , which can ultimately be described as new species, one each on the northern and southern islands of New Zealand [2] .
The cladogram below presents the results of a 2009 analysis by Bunce and colleagues [3] :
| Emeidae |
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| Pachyornis australis |
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| Pachyornis elephantopus |
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| Pachyornis geranoides |
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| Anomalopteryx didiformis |
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| Emeus crassus |
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| Euryapteryx curtus |
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Classification
- Pachyornis australis (South Island, Highlands of the Southern Alps )
- Pachyornis elephantopus (South Island, Eastern)
- Pachyornis geranoides (North Island)
- Pachyornis new line A (undescribed taxon) [2]
- Pachyornis new line B (undescribed taxon) [2]
