The Great Elephant Bird

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1. The non-flying group of birds known as ratites include the ostrich, the emu, the kiwi, the cassowary, the rhea, the (extinct) moa, and the (extinct) elephant bird. Which island was the only known habitat of the elephant bird? Madagascar Papua-New Guinea Mauritius New Zealand

2. It is generally accepted that as many as four species of elephant birds may have existed on the island with the largest, the great elephant bird, being the last one to become extinct. What is the great elephant bird's official name? Aepyornis maximus Aepyornis gracilis Aepyornis medius Aepyornis hildebrandti

3. Currently the largest bird in the world, the ostrich can weigh up to 300 lbs. and reach a height of 6 feet. Which bird is considered to be the heaviest ever on record? The elephant bird The pterodactyl The moa The Haast's eagle

4. A very rare elephant bird egg was acquired by explorer Luis Marden in 1967. Where is this elephant bird egg kept? The Smithsonian Institute The National Geographic Society The British Museum The Natural History Museum (France)

5. What is suspected to have contributed to the extinction of the great elephant bird? Habitat loss due to colonization and deforestation As a source of fresh meat All three are likely possibilities Egg destruction by introduced predators

6. The elephant bird was first seen by either Indonesian, African, or Arab explorers who visited the island between 100-500 A.D.. Who were the first Europeans to settle on the island and possibly see the elephant bird? The French The Spanish The Portuguese The Dutch

7. One of the first Europeans to describe the great elephant bird was Etienne de Flacourt (1607-1660), the first French Governor of the island. In 1658, he briefly wrote "...a large bird which haunts the Ampatres and lays eggs like the ostriches; so that the people of these places may not take it, it seeks the most lonely places". Why did de Flacourt not later elaborate on the existence of the elephant bird? He was removed from his Governor's post He was killed by Algerian pirates He died of typhoid on the island He died of natural causes after returning to France

8. The elephant bird is thought to have evolved on its sole island habitat instead of originating from another continent. Yet, curiously, there were reports of "aepyornithid" (elephant bird-like) eggs found on a group of islands off the northwest coast of mainland Africa. On which island group were eggs similar to those of the elephant bird found? Cape Verde The Canary Islands Madeira Islands The Azores

9. From 1500 till the mid-1800's, Europeans were still skeptical of the possibility of "giant birds laying giant eggs". In 1851, confirmation of the elephant bird's existence came courtesy of a certain (French) Captain Abadie. What evidence proving the elephant bird's existence did he acquire? An elephant bird skeleton A photograph of the elephant bird A dead elephant bird An elephant bird egg

10. The sheer size of the great elephant bird may have given rise to a mythological bird of prey. Which bird? The phoenix The roc The gryphon Haast's eagle