B28
Eggshell of moa

The moa is a huge bird that lived in New Zealand. Because its skeletons and eggshells can be excavated and collected, the morphological characteristics of this species have been partially revealed. The moas seem to have phylogenetically branched to various taxa. The height is estimated to be more than 3m, and the body weight may be over 250kg. The moa is a closely related to taxa including the ostrich, rhea, cassowary and kiwi. Based on the form of the skull, the group is named as palaeognaths. Since the species was isolated in New Zealand, the body has become much larger, its wings have degenerated, and its flying ability was completely lost. After human reached New Zealand, they might be extinct more than 500 years ago. The factors of the extinction might include excessive hunting pressure by human. This eggshell is a specimen belonging to Yamaguchi collection. Mr. Takeru Yamaguchi collected and accumulated a large number of specimens and materials related to domestic fowls. Mr. Yamaguchi has established the collection of fowls, when he worked as a managing director in Nosan Corporation that is known as a company of eggs and livestock feed. This egg has been exhibited with many stuffed fowl specimens and folk-craft articles related to fowls in the Wakei (Japanese fowl breeds) Museum of Nosan Corporation. In 2012, all of the collections were donated to the University Museum of the University of Tokyo, and the new history of Yamaguch Collection started as academic materials in the University Museum. The eggshell of the moa is rare. The detailed examinations on its fine structure are being carried out. (Hideki Endo & Mayu Kusumi)