Text 651, 52 rader
Skriven 2007-08-29 14:56:00 av Martin Atkins
     Kommentar till en text av CAROL SHENKENBERGER
Ärende: Re: EXTINCT BIRDS  70820
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-=> CAROL SHENKENBERGER wrote to MARTIN ATKINS <=-


CS> There was another 'oz related critter' (not the tasmanian devil, which
CS> oddly isnt mentioned at all either but it's too small to have been a
CS> 'mega beast'). That one was a large hunter though and I believe
CS> marsupial related.

MA> The Tasmanian devil is not extinct...yet. You may be thinking about
MA> the Tasmanian tiger (Thylasine). It was a marsupial about the size of
MA> skinny Labrador and was hunted to extinction.

CS> Ah, thanks!  The one they show pictures of from early movie skills in a
CS> pen as it dies or something.  It was the last known one or near it?

It was sadly the last confirmed one in existence but credible
sightings and tracks of the Tiger were reported for a short time 
after that.

CS> Either way, the documentary is about 'mega beasts' (and only mammal
CS> types plus the one bird).

CS> I do seem to recall (not in the documentary) that there used to be a
CS> sort of mega kangaroo?  One that was twice as big as the biggest ones
CS> now?

MA> I think the Dodo bird was from the Mauritius. A very large flightless
MA> bird related to the pigeon. A damn big pigeon.

MA> The Tasmanian Emu is extinct but the Emu is abundant on the mainland.

CS> Yes, the emu is a bit like the pics of the other bird but less meaty.
CS> The one in the documentary has a larger upper body with an almost
CS> shoulder look to it and was a predator.  Dunno about the emu and if it
CS> is a predator or not.

The emu is a harmless bird as such. The only dangerous living
Australian bird is the Cassowary. It has a large claw that can
rip your stomach open (no kidding). The Extinct predatory bird was
Known as The Thunder bird (Dromornis stirtoni) and is believed to 
be the largest bird that ever existed (body mass etc) it grew up to 
3 meters tall weighed half a tonne. It became extinct 30,000-50,000(?) 
years ago. Here is a good resource site regarding Australian mega fauna.

http://science.uniserve.edu.au/school/quests/mgfauna.html

Quite a few good illustrations and a piece on the killer kangaroo. :)



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