Scientists discover fossil of world’s largest parrot in New Zealand
Although long-extinct, the Heracles inexpectatus -- sonamed because of its great size and strength as well as its unexpecteddiscovery -- was found among fossils dating back 19 million years in CentralOtago, in the southeast of New Zealand's South Island.
The Heracles inexpectatus was roughly twice the sizeof the critically endangered kakapo, a flightless bird also from New Zealandthat is the world's largest living parrot.
Trevor Worthy, associate professor at FlindersUniversity in Adelaide, said in a statement that while New Zealand is wellknown for its giant birds, including the now-extinct flightless moa,«until now, no one has ever found an extinct giant parrot --anywhere.»
Researcher Mike Archer, a professor at the Universityof New South Wales in Sydney, said the ancient bird's size meant it would havesat higher in the food chain compared to other parrots.
«Heracles, as the largest parrot ever, no doubt,with a massive parrot beak that could crack wide open anything it fancied, maywell have dined on more than conventional parrot foods, perhaps even otherparrots,» he said.