DNA analysis reveals the big, flightless moa birds ate — and pooped out — 13 kinds of fungi, including ones crucial for New Zealand’s forest ecosystem.

Study Reveals Ancient Flightless Birds Helped Spreading Colorful Native Fungi, Highlights Ecological Balance It is a finding ...

Scientists can learn a lot about extinct animals by studying their footprints, bones and even teeth. But, while insightful, these artifacts don’t always paint a complete picture of an ancient creature ...

the University of Adelaide and the University of Auckland has found that the now-extinct flightless bird moa once consumed the colorful, truffle-like fungi that still grows in New Zealand.

The Maui Nui Moa-nalo (left) was the largest of the grazing flightless ducks that once roamed the forests of Kauai, Oahu and Maui Nui eating leaves and ferns. -- STANTON FINK illustration For ...

There are believed to be at least nine species of moa, ranging from small birds under 50kg to large ones over 3m tall and 250kg. These flightless, herbivorous manu went extinct about 600 years ago.

Boast and a team of researchers, for example, are using fossilized dung to learn more about the diets of extinct flightless birds called moa that once roamed around New Zealand. Coprolites helped ...