Extinct species of flightless bird
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The upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) is an extinct species of moa that was endemic to New Zealand. The species was named by Richard Owen in 1883, and belongs to the ratites, a group of flightless birds with no keel on the sternum. Of all moa species, "Megalapteryx didinus" has the best-preserved specimens, which occasionally also show impressions of soft tissue. The upland moa lived on the South Island of New Zealand, and was predominantly found in alpine and sub-alpine environment where it fed on flowers, herbs and other vegetation. After the Māori arrived in New Zealand and started hunting it, the species went extinct around 1500 CE. It was the last remaining moa species.
Taxonomy.
The upland moa was named as "Dinornis didinus" in 1883 by Richard Owen from mummified material found in 1878 by H. L. Squires in Queenstown, New Zealand and subsequently sent to the British Museum. The holotype specimen consists of a mummified head and partial neck, and two mummified legs and feet which preserve the feathers.
In 2005, a genetic study suggested that "Megalapteryx benhami", which had previously been considered a junior synonym of "M. didinus", may be a valid species after all.
The cladogram below follows a 2009 analysis by Bunce "et al.":
Description.
At less than tall and about in weight, the upland moa is among the smallest known moa species. Unlike other moas, it had feathers covering all of its body but the beak and the soles of its feet, an adaptation to living in cold environments. Scientists previously believed that the upland moa held its neck and head upright; however, more recent study has shown that it actually carried itself in a stooped posture, with its head level to its back. This would have helped it travel through the abundant vegetation present in its habitat, whereas an extended neck would have been more suited to open spaces. The upland moa had no wings or tail.
Soft tissue.
The species has the best-preserved mummified remains of any moa species. Several specimens with soft tissue and feather remains are known: 
Behavior and ecology.
The upland moa was herbivorous, its diet extrapolated from fossilised stomach contents, droppings, and the structure of its beak and crop. It ate leaves and small twigs, using its beak to "shear [...] with scissor-like moves". However, biomechanical testing of its beak and head has shown it was best suited to feed by pulling backwards, possibly while twisting its head to the side. Its food required grinding before it could be digested, as indicated by its large crop. Studies of the upland moa's coprolites have provided evidence that branchlets of trees such as "Nothofagus", various lake-edge herbs, tussock, and nectar-rich flowers made up part of its diet. Based on the pollen present in the coprolites, it is suggested they had a similar lifestyle to the living takahē, feeding in high alpine areas during the summer and descending to lower altitude forests in the winter. They may also have played an important role in the seed dispersal of alpine plants.This moa usually laid only 1 to 2 blue-green coloured eggs at once, and was likely the only type of moa to lay eggs that were not white in colour. Like the emu and ostrich, male moa cared for the young. The upland moa's only predator before the arrival of humans in New Zealand was the Haast's eagle ("Hieraaetus moorei").
Distribution and habitat.
The upland moa lived only on New Zealand's South Island, in mountains and sub-alpine regions. They travelled to elevations as high as 2000 m (7000 ft) above sea level.
Extinction.
Humans first came in contact with the upland moa around 1250 to 1300 AD, when the Māori people arrived in New Zealand from Polynesia. Moa, being docile animals, were an easy source of food for the Māori (who called them "moa pukepuke"), and the birds were eventually hunted to extinction in 1445.
References.
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