The treasure trove included remains, only a few millimeters in size, of five species of pre-historic duck and goose, songbirds, a weka-like bird, a parrot, a bat, and fish species, Jones said.
A lot more work would be needed to build up pictures of what these animals looked like. All of them were new to science, he said.
Eggshell fragments included possible moa eggs, he said. If confirmed, they would show moa ancestors were large and flightless at that time.
Supplied by New Zealand Press Association; Copyright 2002 The Press
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