Re: Dromornis stritoni

[pwillis@ozemail.com.au (Paul Willis)]

>I've just read a news report on the finding of a new skeleton of
>"Dromornis stritoni" an Australian bird they describe as big as an
>elephant! I am curious about what this "big" means, height or size
>(weight)?  Does any one have more info on this creature?

I have heard that reports of a new specimen hit the papers earlier this
week but I haven't seen any myself. Specimens of D. stirtoni are a regular
occurrance at either Alcoota or Bullock Creek (I can never remember which)
both are Miocene deposits in the Northern Territory. These sites are worked
by Peter Murray and Dirk Megirian of the Northern Territory Museum.

I don't know where the elephant bit comes in, but it oculd only be in
comparison to a small elep[hant. D. stirtoni is estimated to have weighed
in at around 450kg.


Cheers,

Paul


Dr Paul M.A. Willis
Consulting Vertebrate Palaeontologist
Quinkana Pty Ltd
pwillis@ozemail.com.au