Aepyornis is an extinct genus of Elephant Bird that lived on the island of Madagascar. The genus consisted of two species: a smaller one, Aepyornis hildebrandti, and a larger one, Aepyornis maximus. The closest living relative of Aepyornis is the Kiwi bird of New Zealand. Aepyornis became extinct around 1000 AD, likely as a result of human activity.
Like present-day ostriches, Aepyornis was a flightless running bird, and its herbivorous diet consisted of plants and fruits. Aepyornis maximus could reach 275 – 1000 kg in weight, stood up to 3 meters tall, and was the largest bird ever to have lived!
