aepyornis

noun

Meaning

An extinct genus of flightless ratite birds that lived on the island of Madagascar, known for their enormous size and exceptionally large eggs.

Examples

  • Paleontologists have uncovered fossilized remains of the Aepyornis in various parts of Madagascar.
  • The eggs of the Aepyornis were the largest of any known bird, measuring over a foot in length.

Synonyms: elephant bird, ratite