iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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GabiPaleo @gabipaleo.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Aepyornis maximus was sexually dimorphic, with females being much larger than males. Until recently they were thought to be a separate genus, the Vorombe titan. However, recent studies of their DNA show that they're genetically identical and belong to the same species. 2/10

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GabiPaleo @gabipaleo.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Aepyornis had the largest egg of any known bird, dinosaur or amniote in general, with a volume of 5.6-13 litres. There is an almost complete skeleton of Aepyornis from an intact egg, which is much more robust than hatchlings of other ratites such as emus or ostriches. 3/10

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GabiPaleo @gabipaleo.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

In 2014, successfully sequenced DNA answered the question of the origin of these giant birds and their place in taxonomy - their closest living relative is a kiwi. The two diverged about 54 million years ago and both, like most ratites, became flightless independently. 4/10

A Southern Brown kiwi photographed in the wild. (New Zealand Department of Conservation)

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