Magnificent Mihirungs: The Colossal Flightless Birds of the Australian Dreamtime

by Patricia Vickers-Rich, Pat Vickers Rich, Peter F. Murray

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253342821
• ISBN13: 9780253342829
• Release Date: March 2004
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 7.4" x 10.2"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher