Bird · GBIF taxon 8706420
Turtle-jawed Moa-nalo
Chelychelynechen quassusAlso known as Large Kauai Goose
Turtle-jawed moa-nalos were massive, flightless waterfowl uniquely adapted to fill the ecological niche of large browsing herbivores on prehistoric Kauai. Their exceptionally deep, blunt beaks closely resembled the jaws of tortoises, equipped to shear through tough fern fronds, fibrous twigs, and coarse leaves across the forest understory. Having evolved in isolation without native land predators, populations collapsed swiftly following human colonization and the introduction of non-native mammals.
FlightlessHerbivorous
Licensed reference(c) Apokryltaros, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
ExtinctConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXExtinctRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Fern fronds
- Shrub foliage
- Lowland herbaceous plants
Predators
- Human (Homo sapiens)
- Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans)
ThreatsOverhunting by humans, habitat destruction, and introduced mammalian predators
HabitatsLowland forests, coastal dunes, and shrublands
Life span15–25 years (estimated)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAnseriformes
- FamilyAnatidae
- GenusChelychelynechen
- SpeciesChelychelynechen quassus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Extinct species; known exclusively from subfossil remains.
Responsible observation
- Museum Exhibits: Observe subfossil bill elements preserved in natural history collections.
- Heritage Sites: Visit public educational displays near the Makauwahi Cave reserve on Kauai.
Image unavailableAncient Neighbor Close Relative 
Close Relative (c) Apokryltaros, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Hawaiian Relative (c) Daval Davis, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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