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Giant Prehistoric Chicken Relative Found in Indonesian Cave
7 Nov
Summary
- A new species of giant prehistoric bird was identified from a fossil.
- The extinct bird, Megapodius rokusi, weighed around 3.9 kg.
- The fossil was discovered in Indonesia's Liang Bua cave.
A previously unknown species of giant prehistoric bird, named Megapodius rokusi, has been identified from a fossil leg bone found in Indonesia's Liang Bua cave on Flores island. This extinct bird, belonging to the megapode family, is estimated to have weighed approximately 3.9 kg, making it substantially larger than its modern relatives. The fossil dates from between 190,000 and 120,000 years ago.
The discovery adds to the understanding of ancient wildlife in Wallacea, the region where Flores is located. Megapodes are ground-dwelling birds known for their strong legs and unique egg-hatching method, burying eggs to rely on environmental heat. This marks the first fossil megapode described from Wallacea, suggesting greater diversity of these birds in the past.
Researchers named the species in honor of Indonesian zooarchaeologist Rokus Due Awe. However, questions remain about Megapodius rokusi, including whether it could fly and its extinction timeline. Scientists are also exploring potential links to ancient human diets, though direct evidence is lacking. The findings were published in the journal Alcheringa.
