Elephant bird Elephant bird Elephant birds are members of the extinct ratite family Aepyornithidae, made up of large to enormous flightless birds that once lived on the island of Madagascar. They became extinct, perhaps around 1000–1200 CE, for reasons that are unclear, although human activity is the suspected cause. Elephant birds comprised the genera "Mullerornis", "Vorombe" and "Aepyornis". While they were in close geographical proximity to the ostrich, their closest living relatives are kiwi, suggesting that ratites did not diversify by vicariance during the breakup of Gondwana but instead evolved from ancestors that dispersed more recently by flying. In September 2018, scientists
Nepean Island (Norfolk Island) Native Rush. The Masked booby breeds onsite during the summer. From July to December Little shearwaters breed on the island. Other birds such as the Whale Bird, Grey noddy, Black noddy, Wedge-tailed shearwater, Brown noddy and Red-tailed tropicbird also breed on Nepean Island. It is a refuge for the endemic Marbled Gecko, which is now extinct on Norfolk Island. It is also home to the Phillip Island Skink. The island is home to Little Nipper Landcrabs and Freshwater crabs. Green turtles are often seen off the coast of the island. Nepean Island (Norfolk Island) Nepean Island (Norfuk: "Nepeyan Ailen") is