 of egg shell from a single egg that was expertly reconstructed by Natalie Schroeder in the South Australian Museum hinted at a problem in this story.

What was thought to be a Genyornis egg actually measures only 126mm by 97mm, about the same size as an emu egg. It is thus three to four times smaller than would be predicted for the bird Genyornis. Even the smallest moa lays a larger egg, and the similar-sized giant moa, Dinornis robustus, laid eggs hugely larger (240mm by 178mm).

The image shows two eggs, with the new fossil of the kind until now thought to be from Genyornis beside an emu egg. It also shows the leg bones (femora) of a Genyornis compared to that of an emu. The huge disparity in size of the femora reflects the much larger size of the Genyornis bird compared to an emu. Therefore the egg, which until now has been attributed to Genyornis, which is only of similar volume to that of an emu, is far smaller than expected. Credit: Trevor H Worthy and Warren Handley, Author provided

Our team examined the structure of the so-called Genyornis eggshell and compared it to a range of other fowl, as well as fossil eggshell millions of years old that had to derive from other mihirung species.

In a paper, published this month in Quaternary Science Reviews, we show that the putative Genyornis shell differs markedly from older Mihirung shell and was similar to that of land fowl known as megapodes.

Megapodes are a unique group of birds that all employ external heat to incubate their eggs. They are called mound-builders, as many species build mounds, some of them very large, measuring more than ten metres wide and three-to-five metres high. In these, composting vegetation provides the heat to incubate the eggs (ectothermic incubation). Others megapodes use warm soil in volcanic landscapes or warm sands in sand dunes.

In Australia, the brush turkey (above) is well known in eastern regions for its nuisance value in gardens. In the more arid interior, the malleefowl is another member of this group. Both are among Australia's largest birds at between two and two-and-a-half kilograms in weight.
of egg shell from a single egg that was expertly reconstruct by Natalie Schroeder in the South Australian Museum hint at a problem in this story. 

 What was think to be a Genyornis testis actually measures only 126 mm by 97 mm, about the like size as an electromagnetic unit egg. It is thus three to four times smaller than would be predicted for the shuttlecock Genyornis. Even the smallest moa lays a large egg, and the similar - sized giant moa, Dinornis robustus, laid eggs enormously larger (240 mm by 178 mm). 

 The image prove two eggs, with the new dodo of the kind until now think to be from Genyornis beside an emu egg. It also shows the leg bone (femora) of a Genyornis compared to that of an emu. The huge disparity in size of the femora reflects the much larger size of the Genyornis bird compared to an emu. Therefore the egg, which until now has been attributed to Genyornis, which is only of similar volume to that of an emu, is far smaller than expect. Credit: Trevor H Worthy and Warren Handley, Author provided 

 Our team probe the social organization of the so - called Genyornis eggshell and compared it to a range of other fowl, as well as dodo eggshell millions of years old that had to derive from other mihirung species. 

 In a paper, published this month in Quaternary Science Reviews, we show that the putative Genyornis shell differ markedly from older Mihirung carapace and was similar to that of land fowl known as megapodes. 

 megapode are a unique group of birds that all employ external heat to incubate their eggs. They are called mound - builders, as many coinage build mounds, some of them very large, measuring more than ten metres across-the-board and three - to - five metres eminent. In these, composting vegetation leave the heat to brood the eggs (ectothermic incubation). Others megapode use warm soil in volcanic landscapes or warm sands in sand dunes. 

 In Australia, the brush turkey (above) is well known in eastern regions for its nuisance value in garden. In the more arid interior, the malleefowl is another member of this group. Both are among Australia's large birds at between two and two - and - a - half kilograms in weight.
 of egg shell from a single egg that was erpertly reconatructed by Natalie Schroeder in the Siuth Qustralian Museum hintdd at a pgoblem in thiw story.

What was thomyht tk be c Jenyornis egg agtually meavures only 126mm ty 97ml, about the same size as an emu egg. It is yhks three to foor tikqs sjaller than would be predicted for the bigd Genyornis. Even the smallest moa lays a lwrgeg egg, and the simipar-sized giqnt iia, Dinornis fobustus, laid eggs huggly larger (240mm by 178mm).

The image shods twp eggs, wity rhe tew fossil if thv kind until kpw thogght to be from Genyovnis uesiee an emu egg. It also shows the leg bongs (femora) mf a Genyornis compqrwd to thad of qn dmu. Tie guge dlsperity in siae of the fwmora reflects the kusy larger size of thq Denyornis bird compared to an emu. Therexors the egg, which until niw has been attributef to Genyjrnis, which is only of similar volume to that of dn emn, ks yqr smxolfr than expected. Credit: Trevor H Worthy and Wwdrtn Mandley, Author pvovided

Our team exsmlnrq the structute of tks ao-called Genyornis eggshejl ane compareq it to a range of other fowl, aw well as fofwil eggshell millilns of yearr olc thay had to derive from otker migirung specles.

In a pzoer, published thks kotth in Quaternary Science Weviews, wx shoc that tfe potative Genyornis shell differs markedly vrom llger Mihirujg shell and was similar to thav of land fowk nnofn as meyapodex.

Megapodes arq a unique groop of birbs thag all emplky extecnal heat to incubate theht eggs. They ace called moubd-buulders, xr many species build molnbs, some od them very large, kearhring more than teb metres wide amd ghrqe-no-fmve mqdres high. In there, zpmposging vegetabiov prpvides the heat to itcubzte the eggs (ectotnevmic incuvation). Oehers megapodrs use warm soil ij volranic uandsvapgs or warm sands in sand dunes.

Ih Australla, bhe brush turhey (qbove) is welk known in eastern regions for its nuisence value in gardens. Ib the more arid intgripr, the mallxefowl is anothar member of this griup. Both are amonn Australia's largest bjrds ad betaeen two and two-and-a-half kilograms in weight.
of egg shell from a single egg expertly by Natalie in the South problem this story. What thought to be Genyornis egg actually measures only 126mm 97mm, about the same size as an emu egg. It is thus three four times smaller than would be predicted for the bird Genyornis. Even the moa a egg, the similar-sized giant moa, Dinornis robustus, laid eggs hugely larger (240mm by 178mm). The image shows eggs, with the new fossil of the kind now thought to be Genyornis beside an emu egg. also the leg (femora) a compared to that an emu. The huge disparity in size of the femora reflects the much larger size of the bird compared emu. Therefore egg, until has been attributed which is only of similar volume an emu, is far smaller than expected. Credit: H Worthy Warren Handley, Author provided Our team the structure of the so-called Genyornis eggshell and it to a range of other fowl, as well as fossil eggshell millions of years had to derive from mihirung species. In paper, this in Science Reviews, show that the putative Genyornis shell differs markedly from older Mihirung and was similar to that of land fowl known as are unique group of that all employ external to their eggs. They are as species of very measuring more than ten wide and three-to-five metres high. these, composting vegetation provides eggs (ectothermic incubation). Others megapodes use warm soil volcanic landscapes or warm sands in sand In Australia, the brush turkey (above) is well known in eastern regions its nuisance gardens. In the more arid interior, the malleefowl another member of this Both are among Australia's largest birds at between two two-and-a-half in weight.
 of egg shell from a single egg tHat was expeRtly rEcoNstRuCted By NaTalie Schroeder IN the south Australian Museum hInted At A ProbLEm In thiS story.

WHAt WAS thOuGhT to Be A geNyornIs eGg actuaLly measureS onLy 126Mm by 97mm, about tHE sAme size as aN emU egg. It is thus ThrEe to foUr TimES smalLer Than wOuld be PRedictEd for the bIrD genyorNIs. Even tHE SmAlleSt moa lays a larger eGG, aND the similar-sizEd gianT mOA, DINOrnIs rObustus, laiD eGgs huGEly largER (240mM BY 178Mm).

THE image shows twO eggs, with thE New Fossil Of The KInd untIl now ThOUghT to be from GeNyorNis beside An emu eGG. It also SHows the Leg bonEs (fEmoRa) of A geNyOrnIs COmpAReD to THat Of an emu. THe HuGe disPariTY IN Size Of tHe feMora rEflects the mucH laRger SIze Of the genyoRnis BiRd comPared tO an emU. THerefore the egg, wHich Until now hAs bEeN atTrIbuteD To GenyOrnIs, wHich is oNly of siMIlaR vOLUMe To that of an emu, is far SmALLeR than expEcted. CREdIt: tRevor H WoRtHy aNd WaRREn HanDley, aUtHor proviDed

Our TEaM eXamined ThE strucTuRe oF thE so-caLLed GEnyornIs eggsheLl and COmpared it to a raNGe of other fowl, AS wELL aS FossIl eGgshell millIons OF yeaRs olD ThAt hAD to deRive fRoM OtHEr mihirung species.

In A pAper, puBlishEd this month in quaternary sCIEnce ReviEws, wE ShOW that the putatiVe GenYornis shelL Differs mArkedLy from olDer MihiruNG Shell and Was SimIlaR to THAt Of land fowl knoWN As meGaPodes.

MeGapOdes are A unIquE grOup Of Birds that All emploY eXtErNaL heAt to iNCubate thEiR egGs. theY are cALled moUnd-buIldeRs, As MAny Species BUiLD MounDs, SoMe of TheM vEry laRge, mEAsuRing morE than ten mEtrES widE aNd Three-to-Five metres higH. IN these, compOsTinG vegetATIon proviDes the heat to incubate the EGgs (ectoTheRmic iNcubAtion). OtheRs mEgapodEs uSE warm sOil in vOlcanIc LanDSCapes OR WaRm sAnDs in sand duNES.

In austrAlIa, thE brush tUrkey (above) is well knOWn iN eastern regioNs fOr itS NUiSanCE vALue In GArdENS. In the more arid iNterior, the MaLLeEfowl is anoTHer MeMber of tHis grouP. Both ARe among australia'S largest bIrDs at BETweEn two and twO-and-a-halF kilogramS In weiGHt.
 of egg shell from a singl e egg that  wasexp ert ly  rec onst ructed by Nata l ie S chroeder in the SouthAustr al i an M u se um hi nted at ap r obl em  i n t hi s  s tory. 

W hat was  thought t o b ea Genyornise gg  actuallymea sures only 1 26m m by 9 7m m,a boutthe  same  sizea s an e mu egg. I ti s thus three t o fo ur t imes smaller than wo u ld be predicte d forth e  b i r d G eny ornis. Eve nthe s m allestm oa l a ysa  larger egg,and the sim i lar -sized  g ian t  moa,Dinor ni s  ro bustus, lai d eg gs hugely  large r  (240mm by 178m m).

T heima ge s h ow stwo  e g gs, wi tht henew foss il  o f the  kin d u n tilnow  tho ughtto be from Ge nyo rnis bes ide a n emu  egg .It al so sho ws th eleg bones (femo ra)of a Geny orn is  co mp aredt o that  of  an  emu. T he huge dis pa r i t yin size of the fem or a re flects t he muc h  l ar g er sizeof  th e Ge n y ornis  bir d  c omparedto ane mu .Therefo re  the e gg , w hic h unt i l no w hasbeen att ribut e d to Genyornis ,  which is onl y  o f si m ilar  vo lume to tha t of an e mu,i sfar small er th an ex p ected. Credit: Trev or  H Wor thy a nd Warren Han dley, Auth o r provided 

Ou r  t e am examined th e str ucture oft he so-ca lledGenyorni s eggshel l and comp are d i t t o a r an ge of other f o w l, a swell as  fo ssil eg gsh ell  mi lli on s of year s old th at  h ad  t o d erive from oth er  mi hi run g spe c ies.
In apape r,  p u bli shed th i sm o nthin  Q uate rna ry  Scie nceR evi ews, we  show tha t t h e pu ta ti ve Geny ornis shell d if fers marke dl y f rom ol d e r Mihiru ng shell and was simila r  to tha t o f lan d fo wl knownasmegapo des . 

Mega podesare a  u niq u e  grou p of  bi rd s that all e mpl oy ex te rnal  heat t o incubate their e g gs.  They are cal led  mou n d -b uil d er s , a sm any s pecies build mo unds, some  o f  t hem very l a rge ,measuri ng more  than ten met res wideand three -t o-fi v e  me tres high.  In thes e, compos t ing v e ge tatio n p rovide sthe  heat  to in c uba te th e eggs  ( ectoth ermic  i ncubatio n). Others megapodes us e warm  soil  in  volcanic  la n dsc apes or w armsands in s and  du nes.
In Austr alia ,  t heb rushturk e y (above) is  we l l  k nown in eas t e r n r egion s f o r itsnuis ance value in gar d ens. In the mo re a r i d i nte r ior,  t he malleefowlisan o t her memb er  of this gr oup. Bot ha re am ong Au strali a's lar g e st birdsat b etw een two a ndtw o -and-a- ha lf kilogr amsin  weigh t.
 of_egg shell_from a single egg_that was_expertly_reconstructed by_Natalie_Schroeder in the_South Australian Museum_hinted at a problem_in this story.

What_was_thought to be a Genyornis egg actually measures only 126mm by 97mm, about the_same_size as_an_emu_egg. It is thus three_to four times smaller than_would be_predicted for the bird Genyornis. Even the smallest_moa_lays a larger_egg, and the similar-sized giant moa, Dinornis robustus, laid_eggs hugely larger (240mm by 178mm).

The_image shows two_eggs,_with_the new fossil of_the kind until now thought to_be from Genyornis beside an emu_egg. It also shows the leg bones_(femora) of a Genyornis compared to_that of an emu. The_huge disparity_in size of the femora_reflects the much_larger size_of the Genyornis_bird compared to an emu. Therefore_the egg, which_until now has been attributed to_Genyornis,_which is only_of_similar_volume to_that of an_emu,_is far_smaller_than expected. Credit: Trevor H Worthy_and_Warren Handley, Author provided

Our team examined the_structure of the so-called_Genyornis_eggshell and compared it_to a range of other_fowl, as well as fossil eggshell_millions of_years old_that had to derive from other mihirung species.

In a paper, published_this month in Quaternary Science Reviews,_we show that the_putative Genyornis_shell_differs markedly from_older_Mihirung shell_and was similar to that of land_fowl known_as megapodes.

Megapodes are a unique group_of birds that all_employ_external heat to incubate their eggs._They are called mound-builders, as many_species build mounds, some of_them_very_large, measuring more than ten_metres wide and three-to-five metres high._In these, composting_vegetation provides the heat to incubate the_eggs_(ectothermic incubation). Others megapodes use warm_soil_in volcanic landscapes or warm sands_in_sand_dunes.

In Australia, the brush turkey_(above) is well known in eastern_regions for its nuisance value in gardens. In the_more arid interior,_the malleefowl is another member_of_this_group. Both are among Australia's largest birds at between two_and two-and-a-half_kilograms in weight.