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The Elephant Bird (Aepyornis maximus)

They are extinct as of the 17th century. But prior to their perpetual absence, they lived and roamed the great plains of Madagascar, a large island off the east coast of Africa. This feathered beauty was the largest bird to ever live (in comparison to known ancestors) and is the cousin of present-day ostriches and emus. With massive legs and claws, and vestigial wings that bore no purpose other than to designate it as a proper bird, it would not have been a very swift and speedy runner. Standing about 10 ft (3 m) tall, it was among the largest animals and likely the head of the Madagascan food chain. They were later drawn out to extinction by the increase of human occupation and exploration of the island, and the removal of the large birds' similarly large eggs.

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12y ago

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