The Biggest Egg Ever Laid

Dinossaurs were the biggest animals to step foot in Earth, but it is actually a bird that lay the biggest eggs, that could weigh up to 10kg It’s the legacy of Aepyornis maximus, better known as the elephant bird. Native to Madagascar and lost to history just a few centuries ago, this flightless giant laid the largest eggs the world has ever seen.

Standing up to 3 meters tall and weighing over 500 kilograms, it dominated the forests of Madagascar for millennia. Scientists believe it was closely related to New Zealand’s kiwi—an ironic twist, given the elephant bird’s massive size. But it’s the eggs that steal the show: up to 34 centimeters long and with a volume of more than 9 liters, they’re the largest known bird eggs ever discovered. One could feed a family for days.

For centuries, locals in Madagascar passed down tales of giant birds “capable of carrying elephants.” But it wasn’t until European explorers in the 17th century stumbled upon massive eggs, sometimes still intact in the sand, that the world took notice. Some were mistaken for dinosaur fossils; others were shipped to museums and collectors, where they became prized curiosities. It wasn’t until the 19th century that scientists officially described Aepyornis and connected it to the eggs.

The elephant bird’s fate was less fortunate. It likely went extinct between the 14th and 17th centuries, not due to climate, but due to humans. Overhunting, habitat loss, and the harvesting of its massive eggs may have spelled the end for this gentle giant. Today, the eggs that once symbolized life are now symbols of extinction—reminders of the fragility of even the mightiest species.

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