Moa Leg Bones C Replica Femur

Description

Moa Leg Bones C Replica Femur (Dinornis novaezealandiae) Information

Moa leg bone C replica femur bone measures 12.6 inches. The Dinornis novaezealandiae 1:1 bone is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast.  Made in USA.

The femur is the uppermost bone of the hind limb in the moa, extending from the hip to the knee. In these extinct birds, the femur was exceptionally robust to support their massive weight.

Anatomy and Structure

The moa femur articulated with the pelvis at the acetabulum (hip socket) and with the tibiotarsus (shin) at the knee joint. Unlike the long, slender femurs of many flighted birds, the femur of the moa (Dinornis) was relatively short, thick, and heavy.

Key Morphological Features

• Femoral Head: The rounded “ball” at the top of the bone that fits into the hip socket. It contains a pit called the fovea capitis, which held a ligament securing the bone to the pelvis.
• Trochanter: A large bony prominence near the head that provided a massive surface area for the attachment of powerful leg muscles.
• Condyles: At the distal end (the knee), the femur featured large, rounded surfaces that allowed it to hinge against the tibiotarsus.

Functional Role in the Moa

In extinct flightless birds like the South Island Giant Moa, the femur was built for power and stability. This stocky structure helped lower the bird’s center of gravity.

Placement in the Hind Limb

The femur is the first of three major segments that made up the moa’s leg:

• Femur (Thigh)
• Tibiotarsus (Middle leg/Shin)
• Tarsometatarsus (Lower leg/Foot)

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Infraclass: Palaeognathae
• Clade: Notopalaeognathae
• Clade: Dinocrypturi
• Order: †Dinornithiformes Bonaparte, 1853
• Type species: †Dinornis novaezealandiae Owen, 1843

Temporal range:

• Miocene – Holocene, 17–0.0006 Ma

Examine the massive thigh morphology of this extinct ratite with a 1:1 scale museum-quality femur cast. This replica highlights the unique honeycomb structure and robust shaft essential for dinornithiform osteology studies. It serves as a vital comparative tool alongside our dodo skeleton, southern cassowary skull, and ostrich skull replica. This Dinornis novaezealandiae specimen provides the precise anatomical detail required by professional biologists and paleozoology researchers. Shop for more museum-quality replicas in our bird or aves replica store.