DNA analysis reveals the big, flightless moa birds ate — and pooped out — 13 kinds of fungi, including ones crucial for New Zealand’s forest ecosystem.

Study Reveals Ancient Flightless Birds Helped Spreading Colorful Native Fungi, Highlights Ecological Balance It is a finding ...

Scientists can learn a lot about extinct animals by studying their footprints, bones and even teeth. But, while insightful, these artifacts don’t always paint a complete picture of an ancient creature ...

the University of Adelaide and the University of Auckland has found that the now-extinct flightless bird moa once consumed the colorful, truffle-like fungi that still grows in New Zealand.

The Maui Nui Moa-nalo (left) was the largest of the grazing flightless ducks that once roamed the forests of Kauai, Oahu and Maui Nui eating leaves and ferns. -- STANTON FINK illustration For ...

Boast and a team of researchers, for example, are using fossilized dung to learn more about the diets of extinct flightless birds called moa that once roamed around New Zealand. Coprolites helped ...