Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime

Author/Contributor(s):	Murray, Peter F ; Vickers-Rich, Patricia
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Date:	03/04/2004
Binding:	Hardcover
Condition:	NEW

Over millions of years, Australia's unique biodiversity has produced a large cabinet of curiosities. Among the weirder members of this group were the Mihirungs, members of the now extinct family Dromornithidae. Made up of several genera of flightless birds--among them one of the very largest birds that ever lived--the dromornithids ranged from 60-kilogram beasts, 1.5 meters tall, to giants twice that size, weighing nearly half a metric ton. They were, by orders of magnitude, the largest geese that ever lived. One species was comparable in size to the Ele-phantbird of Madagascar and the Giant Moa of New Zealand. This book is the first major study of this unique and highly diverse group. It aims to present as complete a synthesis as possible of current information about this fascinating family of birds.