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Description
Common Name: Pampas Moa Rhea

Scientific Name: Dinorhea arduas

Height: 2-3.6 meters

Weight: 35 to 72 kilograms

Diet: Grasses, leaves, and fruit

Distribution: The open grassland and wooded areas of the Great Pampas and the lightly forested areas of the Enchente Rainforest

Lifespan: 25 to 60 years

Description: The Pampas moa rhea is a large flightless bird that lives on the grasslands and rainforests of South America. These birds are descended from the greater rhea (Rhea americana) which was a smaller flightless bird that took the niche that was held by ostriches and emus in other parts of the world 40 million years ago. Since many of the megafaunas went extinct 45 million years ago and isolation of the island, the rheas were able to get larger and find a new niche held by false giraffes and camels on other continents.
The Pampas moa rhea is dark brown in color with gray scales on the legs. The height of rhea is used to help them reach the tops of trees to get any more leaves and fruit. Its height also makes it so smaller predators can’t get at its neck, being a weak spot for most animals. The wings are vestigial and extremely small, almost being useless outside of courtship. The beak is thin and is used for picking leaves and fruit off of trees.
The Pampas moa rhea’s breeding behavior is very unique for flightless birds. The male birds will first start to call out in a loud squawk. It can make this noise for over an hour, doing this until a female arrives. Once a female arrives, the male moa will then stand up straight and became to shuffle around the mate. The moa rhea sometimes puts out its wings and uses it to also coax the female. Once the moa rheas do find a mate, they will stay together for life.

Description
Common Name: Pampas Moa Rhea

Scientific Name: Dinorhea arduas

Height: 2-3.6 meters

Weight: 35 to 72 kilograms

Diet: Grasses, leaves, and fruit

Distribution: The open grassland and wooded areas of the Great Pampas and the lightly forested areas of the Enchente Rainforest

Lifespan: 25 to 60 years

Description: The Pampas moa rhea is a large flightless bird that lives on the grasslands and rainforests of South America. These birds are descended from the greater rhea (Rhea americana) which was a smaller flightless bird that took the niche that was held by ostriches and emus in other parts of the world 40 million years ago. Since many of the megafaunas went extinct 45 million years ago and isolation of the island, the rheas were able to get larger and find a new niche held by false giraffes and camels on other continents.
The Pampas moa rhea is dark brown in color with gray scales on the legs. The height of rhea is used to help them reach the tops of trees to get any more leaves and fruit. Its height also makes it so smaller predators can’t get at its neck, being a weak spot for most animals. The wings are vestigial and extremely small, almost being useless outside of courtship. The beak is thin and is used for picking leaves and fruit off of trees.
The Pampas moa rhea’s breeding behavior is very unique for flightless birds. The male birds will first start to call out in a loud squawk. It can make this noise for over an hour, doing this until a female arrives. Once a female arrives, the male moa will then stand up straight and became to shuffle around the mate. The moa rhea sometimes puts out its wings and uses it to also coax the female. Once the moa rheas do find a mate, they will stay together for life.