Prehistoric 'giant goose' comes into focus after new finds in remote Australia.

A recent study published in Historical Biology provides new insights into the prehistoric bird known as Newton's thunder bird (Genyornis newtoni). The study describes the discovery of an almost complete skull of G. newtoni, shedding light on its appearance and behavior. The bird, which lived in ancient Australia around 50,000 years ago, resembled a giant goose and weighed about 230 kilograms. The research suggests that G. newtoni was adapted to aquatic life and likely had a specialized diet. The study also reveals that G. newtoni and its dromornithid cousins are more closely related to South American waterfowl called screamers, challenging previous assumptions about their evolutionary history. The extinction of G. newtoni is believed to be linked to environmental changes and human presence in Australia. [Extracted from the article]