| Lesser moa Temporal range:Pleistocene-Holocene | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Skeleton of theeastern moa (Emeus crassus) in Musee des Confluences, Lyon | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Infraclass: | Palaeognathae |
| Order: | †Dinornithiformes |
| Family: | †Emeidae (Bonaparte, 1854)[1] |
| Type species | |
| Emeus crassus | |
| Species | |
Anomalopteryx didiformisBush moa | |
Thelesser moa[a] (familyEmeidae) were a family in themoaorder Dinornithiformes. About two-thirds of all moa species are in the lesser moa family.[2] The moa wereratites fromNew Zealand: flightless birds with asternum but without akeel. They also have a distinctivepalate. The origin of the ratites is becoming clearer as it is now believed that early ancestors of these birds were able to fly and flew to the southern areas that they have been found in.[3]
Currently, six species of lesser moa are recognised, belonging to four genera. These are:[3][4]
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