The Largest Birds EVER Are Coming Back From the Dead! How Ratites Took Over the World.

Ratites such as cassowaries, emus, and ostriches have got to be some of the most amazing birds alive today. But what if I told you that some even more amazing ratites were here just a few hundred years ago, and they could be back very soon? What would you think? We're really not so much preoccupied with whether or not we could, but rather whether we should. So should we? Well let's take a long look at all of the ratites, how they are related, and which ones may be back soon.
#clintsreptiles #dinosaur #birds
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Attribution: docs.google.com/document/d/1h...
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Clint is a professional biologist and educator, but above all, Clint LOVES reptiles and he loves to share that love with everyone he meets. Whether you're lover or a hater of reptiles, you can't help but get excited with Clint!
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[@ClintsReptiles]

Over 19 MINUTES of BONUS content from this video, exclusively for our Stinkin' Rad Fans on Patreon! Patreon is a great way to support Clint's Reptiles AND get awesome extras (including hundreds of other bonus videos)! www.patreon.com/posts/video-patreon-80073479

[@ABCHerping82]

Thanks! I can't become a member, but still enjoy them!

[@dotdashdotdash]

two words, moar dinosaurs!

[@bradley4706]

Flight limits size? What about quetzalcoatlus and hatzegopteryx?

[@concon9107]

​@@bradley4706They were large quadrupeds while birds stand on two legs, the upper limit on birds as far as we've seen is a 150 lb condor like animal, Argentavis Magnificens.

[@bradley4706]

@@concon9107 yes but the idea was the larger the thing the less it could fly. But they were much larger and could fly. Or at least people think they could fly.

[@sampagano205]

I'm on team bring back the moa, even if reintroduction is totally impossible, they would be a really powerful ambassador for conservation generally.

[@ranguntnt8732]

Yeah, imagine being a little kid and going on a trip to the zoo and they tell you "this bird should be dead. And it was. The only reason it's here is because of humans, but the only reason it died is humans. Prevent the ratite's story from repeating itself."

[@Exquailibur]

I dont think it would be impossible, but the first batch would be full of surprises since we know little about them. Pretty much every behavior would be unknown to us and we would have to figure out what role they fill in the ecosystem.

[@magnuslunzer2335]

Why should it be impossible to reintroduce Moas?

[@Ganjaguy69]

@@magnuslunzer2335 the environment probably wouldn’t support them anymore, that and it would throw the ecosystem off

[@hi_tech_reptiles]

Plus mounted combat

[@hypsyzygy506]

The Calvaria tree of Mauritius almost went extinct forty years ago. In 1977 there were only 13 trees, each over 300 years old and dying. A project to rescue the species discovered that only by feeding the fruit to large birds such as turkeys and geese were the seeds able to be germinated, suggesting a dependency of the tree on the dodo.

[@AnthonyMorris-pg9xj]

Actually, I think they found that giant tortoises did an even better job of distributing the seeds. The birds that were used in the experiment had to be force fed.

[@thorstenkrug144]

Still, many seeds need a proper intestinal Passage to germinate. Poo is a good fertilizer. 😅

[@mariamcgiver3664]

Fascinating 🤩👍

[@TCK-9]

The researchers could have skipped the birds and did it themselves. It's not a particular bird, or even any bird. It's just the digestive process through the system of any bird or mammal is needed to break down some of the outer casing, which normally wouldn't allow it to germinate properly unless it had spent a LONG time in the soil. In most cases you can carefully slice the casing or similar, or soak it in something for a while that will soften it. The bird method is just some extraneous nonsense added to promote the story.

[@mryoung8586]

Humans don't use gastroliths, so I'm curious if the wear caused by digestive gravel is relevant in this case. I believe there are other plants that require this as well

[@olepigeon]

The South American _hoatzin_ is my favorite living dinosaur. Their chicks still have *teeth and claws!* (the _only_ bird species I'm aware of that still has teeth.) I find them absolutely fascinating. It's like looking back in time! If a nest is threatened, the chicks will actually jump out of the nest (usually over water), swim like a diving bird, then use their claws to climb back up the tree into the nest. The adult birds lose their teeth and claws, but they still look reminiscent of some of the earliest feathered flying dinosaurs with their long, loose feathers everywhere ( _especially_ the tail feathers and crown feathers.)

[@cesaremarianopasqui7535]

Holy moly

[@OK-pi6fq]

Some have Tomia, and it’s a little shocking.

[@DakotaRowehl]

Wow, that wikipedia page was interesting. Based off genetics they're the last surviving species of a line of birds that branched off 64 million years ago. That's a long time but still way more recent than I thought birds retained teeth at all.

[@cesaremarianopasqui7535]

@@DakotaRowehl only One milion years After the great kaboom? Man that means they are more like dinosaurs than the rest of the birds in the world, we gotta protect the precious

[@firytwig]

I know you didn’t specify claws but what I find even cooler about birds as a whole is a LOT of them still have claws on their wings, Cassowaries have especially prominent claws but even something like the chicken does have noticeable claws. Which is what will always be in the back of my mind whenever I see a whole chicken at the grocery store.

[@milobem4458]

Bring back Dodo! You can bring the other birds and mammals too, but the best thing about Dodo is how easy it would be to keep them alive as pets and farm animals. For large animals like Moa and Mammoth we would have to create big Zoo enclosures or wild natural reserves which I also support, but Dodo is cheaper.

[@nickylindsey5248]

We have no physical dna patterns making it’s almost impossible

[@Acridotheresfuscus]

If you want to “de-extinct” do it for the Tasmanian Tiger, it's actually needed, the dodo would be a waste of time.

[@mexcore14]

Wasn't the Dodo's taste actually awful? To the point you had to kill other things just to mix them with the Dodo and make it barely bearable? I think outside of it's ecological niche in that Island it doesn't have a purpose, and that island still has the conditions that drove the Dodo to extinction.

[@rickwrites2612]

​@@mexcore14i think they meant as a pet and farm (egg) population

[@darcieclements4880]

If we had genetic material for dodos, they would definitely be the first on the list. Unfortunately, dodos were not archived well. My dad's cousin's boyfriend rescued the head of a dodo out of a museum trash burn when he recognized what it was (both zoologists). The Mount had been invested with dermestid beetles, so they were burning it not even considering that there could be unique material there. That head and foot are 2 of the only pieces we have left of a dodo and they are not in good condition for DNA recovery (burn damage and mold damage from mount being poorly done originally). In recent articles I haven't even seen that specimen listed as one in existence, so it's possible that something further happened to it since then. If I remember correctly it is in Australia. Unless something shows up in a private collection somewhere, I'm afraid that dodos are gone for good. The only other chance we have is possibly a partially developed egg that got buried really deep on the island that hasn't been found yet somehow. Edit: okay I found it, Oxford has it now! www.google.com/search?q=dodo+specimens+remaining&client=ms-android-google&sca_esv=581526710&sxsrf=AM9HkKkvLZ89Y5nOMijSfepzCXKLuFRfNg%3A1699714828495&ei=DJdPZeHXHe_NkPIPkaiNkAI&oq=dodo+specimens+remaining&gs_lp=EhNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwIhhkb2RvIHNwZWNpbWVucyByZW1haW5pbmcyBRAhGKABSMY6UKkLWLUxcAN4AJABAZgBjgGgAecYqgEFMjEuMTK4AQPIAQD4AQGoAg_CAggQABiiBBiwA8ICBxAjGOoCGCfCAgoQIxiKBRjqAhgnwgIEECMYJ8ICCxAuGLEDGIoFGJECwgIIEAAYigUYkQLCAggQLhiABBixA8ICBxAAGIoFGEPCAhAQLhiKBRixAxjHARjRAxhDwgILEAAYigUYsQMYkQLCAgsQABiABBixAxiDAcICCBAuGIoFGJECwgIKEAAYgAQYFBiHAsICBRAAGIAEwgIGEAAYFhgewgIIEAAYigUYhgPiAwQYASBBiAYBkAYE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp#vhid=6lQtMm5qxl9uUM&vssid=l It's pretty crazy to think that he pulled that out of a fire and that somebody didn't recognize it and thought it was just some piece of junk.

[@ggoannas]

I grew up in Australia and have an immense love for emus. I almost acquired a pair in France but decided against it. Good choice because I got divorced and lost that property and would have had a terrible time rehoming them correctly (I did have rheas when living in South America). However, my new neighbour got two for his 15th birthday and still has the male, Sydney, who is now 30 years old. I went to a park the other day where there were emus and started drumming at them and they were replying. Then I turned around and saw a keeper staring at me as if I were mad. I said, “I’m Australian”. I find that response is usually widely accepted when caught doing anything eccentric.

[@BradGryphonn]

@ggoannas I have never left Australia. Too much that I still have to experience here. However, I too like Emus but my favourite bird of that type is definitely the Cassowary. I've lived in Far Nth Queensland and have seen Cassowaries many times. They are smaller than Emus but are magnificent in their colour, and stockiness. And contrary to legend, are quite placid if not threatened. I've been lucky enough to see Emus in the wild, in zoos, and emus that choose to hang around remote outstations or roadhouses because there's reliable water and an easy feed from tourists and locals. Hann River Roadhouse, on the Peninsula Development Road on Cape York, has an Emu that has hung around for years. Emus also make regular appearances at Musgrave Roadhouse, on the Cape.

[@ggoannas]

@@BradGryphonn I miss Australia very much. The smell of eucalyptus, the white trunks, the red earth, the flocks of parrots, the little streams full of sicle like gum leaves, the blue wrens glinting like jewels in the undergrowth and the calls of the bellbirds. I could go on and on….

[@ggoannas]

@@BradGryphonn Thanks! I will.

[@OK-pi6fq]

Ahahahahah

[@Upper_echelon_exotics]

Lol 😂

[@hudsonhaynie1632]

I lived in NZ for a couple years as a kid. People still had moa feathers as trinkets or family heirlooms. It’s crazy how recently moas were here.

[@marvalice3455]

it helps that feathers are quite resilient.

[@PondScummer]

As a kiwi I've never heard of anyone having moa feathers... Maybe bones but not feathers. 600-500 years is a long time to hand down a feather. Maybe you're thinking of huia feathers?

[@hudsonhaynie1632]

@LIMAX I misremembered, some of the older Māori clothing had them. Excuse me.

[@luciengrondin5802]

I doubt they are actual moa feathers.

[@omggiiirl2077]

​@@PondScummer yeah i was thinking huis feathers woven into korowai or used to adorn the hair.

[@TaleRavenTarot]

As a professor, I just love how you explained all of this. I can tell you're an amazing teacher. I think giant birds are cool, but I'm also afraid of them! I'd love to see a video on "The Dodo Bird: the Best Pet Bird?" I already know Cassowaries aren't!

[@TheFredmac]

Cassowaries, pit bulls for bird people.

[@richardkenan2891]

Given that he's done videos on King Cobras and Black Mambas, there's no reason he couldn't do a video on whether Cassowaries are the best pet birds even though we all know they aren't. It's not like anybody thought that King Cobras or Black Mambas were the best pet snakes either. They were still great videos.

[@katehastings8907]

As an Aussie, it's so refreshing hearing the word emu pronounced correctly

[@cadenlikespigs]

The saying goes, “every time you watch a Clint’s Reptiles video, you learn something new.” Talking about all these extinct animals makes me want a video about recently extinct animals.

[@aymonfoxc1442]

Yeah, I can happily second that motion.🤓

[@alveolate]

it's really a good enough topic for an entirely new series of videos!

[@alexlevesque9687]

Here's me putting my vote in for glyptodon!

[@mrsystemvirus]

Understatement of the century 😂 i learn ALOT from Clint ❤

[@kiaradoesart9682]

So, fun story Growing up in the New Zealand countryside in the 90s my primary school had an annual "Agricultural Day" near the end of the year. About halfway through the year, all the kids would have to get an animal (or plant) to raise up and compete with on Ag Day. (Plants were considered a cop out, unless your parents were hippies haha) For my last Ag Day, being an edgy 11 year old I wanted to raise something different from the "mainstream" animals (think calves, lambs, chickens, dogs) and my parents sourced for me an emu egg and an incubator from a farm down the road. I hatched it out myself, and as she grew I would spend hours each day with her playing in her sandpit digging holes and messing around with a whole bunch of baby toys (mirrors, blocks, etc.). She was awesome! Very affectionate and SMART! She learned to fetch, leg weave and sit on command completely without me meaning to teach her. She loved to sit on my lap and talk to me hehe We won the champion ribbon in the "poultry" section that year 😂And I sometimes wonder now what the adults thought at the time ("fkn extra kid with her weird Australian chicken" probably, if it wasn't "who the fk gave that child an emu") The deal was that after Ag Day she would be returned to the emu farm, which was probably a better place for her to become an adult emu than some kid's backyard (the girl emus just had their loose feathers collected, no worries!) but damn I missed her- apparently she went on to be very bossy towards the other emus but loved her humans ❤

[@rickh3714]

Very emusing. I was surprised when I passed a derelict farm on my way to my local North Island service town to see an emu in a small partitioned paddock by the road. If you looked at the native NZ Bush and scrub clad hills behind it & ignored the sound of traffic you could kid yourself it was a reasonably large Moa! I have ( just once) seen a Kiwi in my garden at dusk and heard one up close once at night but couldn't see it. We used to even hear them at night in Auckland as kids in Native Bush tracts (then on the outskirts of Auckland). I doubt if any remain now as it is way more built up. The farms all turned to subdivisions in the late 70s/early 80s.

[@CrimsonGryphon45]

That's really interesting! I had no idea they were so affectionate, smart, chatty or that they formed that close of a bond. I've mostly heard that they weren't really that friendly toward humans and it wasn't obvious, in any of the documentaries I've seen, that they were particularly close with each other, either. Very cool!

[@Sovereignty3]

I was wondering being raise by humans how well she would integrate into the flock (?). Sound like she would have been good for a petting zoo too.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

@@rickh3714 There are still some Kiwi in various reserves and patches of bush out by Pine Harbour, and of course Motu Tapu has got a thriving population, among other places "near" Mighty Auckland.

[@rickh3714]

@@uncletiggermclaren7592 Good to hear. The area I was talking about occupies the tract of land between Whitford & what is now Dannemora ( which I don't think existed back then & Cockle Bay- now mostly fairly heavily populated suburbs). I once saw a pair of little blue penguins in Downtown Auckland near the Waiheke ferry terminal ( circa 2008 ) too. I think I heard Kiwi near Huia circa 1982-ish also.

[@atimidbirb]

Friendly reminder that the GREAT EMU WAR is the most glorious and simultaneously most hilarious event in history. Losses in this war include 2 emu on their side, and dignity on the human side.

[@sunflower9611]

The great American war on black currants pales in comparison. Though was a bit more successful in their failure.

[@PalemoonTwilight]

This was wonderful! So I was an exchange student in Darwin, NT, where I stayed with a family outside of the city (read “in the bush”). My Aussie Dad was found an injured emu on the road and brought it home. When I stayed with them, the emu, called Charlie, stayed in a large pen out back, with the chickens (aka chooks). Charlie was right on eye-level with me, and I found him quite unnerving. Fascinating, though. 🌙💜☮️

[@dylansmith5606]

Love from Darwin NT

[@jonnylumberjack6223]

Some KZbin channels utterly shame our education system. This is one of them. Kids are very, very lucky to have you, Clint.

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

Well he is biologist

[@micahwatt5756]

I'm a fan of bringing back some of the animals we made extinct back, as well as bringing back some megafauna. I feel that they'll have a similar effect in certain areas as wolves did in Yellowstone. Especially in the Tundra style areas such as up in Syberia, I feel that mammoths might make improvements to the natural area.

[@debbylou5729]

WE didn’t make them extinct. Things go extinct all of the time. It’s only the ridiculous claims made by people calling themselves ‘experts’ that make you think this.

[@KAITLYN-wq2rq]

I would agree for some species. I’d focus on very recently extinct first personally. My worry is lack of habitat cause of humans for megafauna

[@MeanBeanComedy]

Let the Maori figure it out. It's their fault!

[@frederickd.provoncha8671]

Yes please, let's do it... Except for T-Rex. Please for heaven sake, no T-Rex. If we learned anything from the movie Jurassic Park...

[@ProjectYoutube]

@@frederickd.provoncha8671 You know that movie is fiction right? All those animals in that movie seem completely bloodthirsty. A real life T-Rex would not behave like that at all

[@bronhaller]

As an Aussie, I'm so happy to see you so excited about our modern dinos!

[@dannyreynolds2751]

My former neighbors in COLORADO raised Emus. My other neighbors were classified as a private zoo and had care of rare and endangered bird species. Our local public zoo had lions. I went to sleep each night to cawing Peacocks and Lion roars and huffing. I didn't realize that even people who live in places where these animals are native rarely see and hear them.

[@charadreemurr1083]

i really love the amount of stress clint puts on his advice for not dying to a cassowary. its both hilarious and terrifying and really thats all i expect out of a real life dinosaur

[@JavierMonge-ub7ns]

Don't fall down.

[@ladykoiwolfe]

I do believe the more recent dude was actually having a stroke or heart attack which caused them to fall down.

[@vince147]

@@ladykoiwolfe don't have a stroke. EZ

[@albertonykus]

As a bird paleontologist, I just want to say that Clint's videos are brilliant and I especially appreciate the emphasis on viewing biodiversity from a phylogenetic perspective. It's incredible how much information they can present in such a clear and engaging way. I've of course been enjoying the recent focus on birds and other dinosaurs, and look forward to seeing more! A couple of comments: the paleognath phylogeny used here is a somewhat unconventional one. The majority of recent analyses focusing on paleognath interrelationships tend to find a cassowary/emu + kiwi + elephantbird clade excluding the moa + tinamou lineage (and there's also some uncertainty about whether the moa + tinamou clade should switch places with the rheas). That being said, the tree in this video has been recovered by a couple of large-scale studies, so I wouldn't count it out just yet; there's just a lot of work left to do regarding paleognath phylogenetics! This wasn't mentioned in the video, but kiwi are another paleognath group that have retained four toes per foot. (Conversely, there are a few tinamous that have lost the innermost toe and become three-toed, namely members of the genera Eudromia and Tinamotis.) I generally don't think it's worth getting worked up about the pronunciation of scientific terms, but given that it came up in the outtakes: I and most other bird researchers I know say paleognath as "paleo-nayth".

[@ShrimplePleasures]

Thanks for the cool additional info!

[@Just_shush_now]

I believe the clade is not a necessary taxonomic classification either. The Kiwi may be in the same clade as the other ratites in Oceania but they are extremely loosely related to the others… being that they are in their own family and order. I usually don’t bother with clade’s. Though it understand why someone who actually works in that field needs it.

[@StrikeEagle784]

As science always is and will be, ever-changing. Thank you for your perspective!

[@jendubay3782]

I swear, there’s nothing more predictable than disagreements over taxonomy. 🤣

[@kylieshaye6562]

How does one become a bird paleontologist? Sounds like you could never be bored with that career.

[@DodderingOldMan]

Particularly great video. I love your passion for not only living creatures, but also the science of biology and evolution.

[@WaterspoutsOfTheDeep]

Evolution is pseudo science though... modern science has long retired it. encode project alone flat out proved humans never evolved.

[@IanOhNo]

Clint, you're really pioneering the Educational Field on YT, you are by far the best at explaining the complex phylogeny and phenotypes, I have always loved bio, and I attribute that partly to teachers, but also to channels and TV like this, thank you so much for exploring and explaining the Reptile world.

[@antjaysocial]

22:00 my parents used to live in northern qld and would go bush walking a lot. They told me about this time they encountered a wild cassowary while bush walking. My parents are both over 6ft tall but felt tiny compared to it. They told me they stayed as still as possible because of how terrified they were, and well ehat do you know they survived haha. Respect the bird and dont fall down

[@ClintsReptiles]

Never fall down!

[@klippschliefer4968]

the two idiots mentioned in the video didnt deserved it another way than getting slashed into pieces when they tried to kill one.

[@IrinaGreenman]

I love watching these phylogenies as a classicist, because I know the Latin and Greek words. "Struthio" comes to us straight from the Latin for ostrich, which I always remember weirdly because the Latin for a giraffe is "struthiocamelus," "ostrichcamel." Fun description of a giraffe!

[@Courtenaire9911]

and the scientific name for an ostrich is "struthio camelus"

[@EliotChildress]

I’m just imagining a baby seeing a predator for the first time and their parent flies away and the baby thinking “WE CAN DO THAT?!?!”

[@TheCynicalOptimist88]

Clint I haven't seen one of your videos for a while and that wasn't on purpose just busy, just want to say amazing video you had me captivated from start to finish I appreciate your true passion and the eloquence in which you present the information.. I learned a ton and how much this kind of video highlights the amazing intricacies of the phenology of creatures on this planet.. pretty amazing how we can map this kind of thing and compare them and as you said they can't be biased because you don't know what's what until you compare... Well done I'm going to look back at more of the videos you've done recently! Your description of morphology and analogy was really insightful and make so much sense, definitely makes you marvel at the power of convergency!😁

[@karenlee3198]

Can I just commend you as an Aussie how nice it is to hear someone pronounce Emus correctly? Go the dinosaur 🦖🦕!!

[@ClintsReptiles]

I've learned from my past mistakes. Thank you Aussies for your patience with my ignorance and your willingness to teach me the way.

[@leemasters3592]

Ditto!

[@MelGibsonFan]

Strange. I’ve only ever heard people pronounce it that way. Didn’t realize it was uncommon.

[@Exquailibur]

I mean you guys lost a war to them so it makes sense that you guys have to say it correctly, I will probably continue butchering the pronunciation since I dont have emus breathing down my neck.

[@MelGibsonFan]

@@Exquailibur Tbf they are pretty terrifying as far as birds go… not as scary as this black masked love bird I used to have though.

[@catmus1506]

As an Australian, I am overjoyed to hear an American correctly pronounce emu. Thank you!

[@antjaysocial]

Literally same. This is why we love clint

[@loofy530]

Wait how do Americans usually pronounce it? I thought how Clint did was the only way anyone ever did.

[@antjaysocial]

@@loofy530 e-moo. He says e-mew which is correct. So many people make a moo sound but the correct pronunciation is e-mew

[@ClintsReptiles]

E🐮 instead of E😺

[@neilchace1858]

​@@antjaysocial I've literally never heard someone pronounce it e-moo, and I used to volunteer at a zoo that had an emu. E-mew is the only pronunciation I've ever heard.

[@attilastevekopias]

The Elephant Bird is an interesting example of how island gigantism and flightlessness depend more on the lack of predators (caused, of course, by the area being isolated) than the area being small. Madagascar is technically an island but one that is bigger than entire France or more than twice as big as the New Zealand islands together, being the 4th largest island after Greenland, New Guinea, and Borneo.

[@richardkenan2891]

Those big islands, especially some place like Madagascar that's so close to Africa, it's kind of a surprise that no predators ever colonized the place. I mean, I wouldn't expect enough lions to get across the sea to Madagascar to establish a population, but some kind of wild dogs or cats could have made it across and gone completely nuts as the only predators until humans colonized the island.

[@Girjon05]

​@@richardkenan2891 Madagascar does actualy have "large" predators, the fossas. While they would pose no threat to an adult elephant bird, there is no doubt that some chicks were taken by fossas

[@TuckerUp]

Australia is the biggest island in the world 😉

[@GRIGGINS1]

Madagascar is not a small landmass. It is the size of the Eastern Seaboard of the US. Hardly Island gigantism.

[@anthonyduncan1221]

I discovered clint's channel recently and im hooked.......i just enjoy your enthusiasm, and that keeps me coming back

[@caitlingreenwood1263]

Please make more videos about extinct birds. As a bird nerd, I find it really interesting how little I actually know about extinct bird species. I feel like they are often left out when people discuss extinct creatures.

[@Vicus_of_Utrecht]

Just remember this universal truth, all them chicken birds taste good.

[@jendubay3782]

Ohhhh he could do the North American parot!

[@stevesaturnation]

@@jendubay3782is that the same as the Carolina Parakeet? That was the United States most beautiful bird some say. I’m definitely for bringing it back but without the vast cane breaks that covered most of the lowland areas adjacent to marshes in the SE they would unfortunately face the same problem that doomed them to begin with. I wish we could accept some balance when interacting with the world we live in, smh.🦜

[@honourabledoctoredwinmoria3126]

@@stevesaturnation The other issue is that other introduced parakeets have probably already colonized the little remaining parrot habitat left.

[@mariebcfhs9491]

the ratites are the group of birds that go "wait, we're dinosaurs all along aren't we?" and go on to live like dinosaurs.

[@Dragrath1]

In some sense the oldest groups of ratites to become flightless appear to have done so in the immediate aftermath or thereabouts of the K-Pg extinction.

[@theapexsurvivor9538]

​@@Dragrath1they really just went "We're back niches!"

[@Morganational]

Love your videos, the format you lay out with the closest relatives is so incredibly useful, so informative. Thank you.

[@rufflesal]

I live in Brisbane Australia and one time stayed in Mission Beach. I saw a wild male Cassowary on the side of the road on 2 occasions. It was pretty exciting! 😁

[@Level_1_Frog]

You should definitely do a whole video on Madagascar! The ecology there is so wild, and looking throughout history it seemingly always has been wild and weird. Why? It's resources? It's location? Is it beneath a vortex of pure magic? I wanna know!

[@marvalice3455]

all old islands have some level of weirdness. remember, the British isles have only been islands for a relatively short time. in the early bronze age, you could walk from italy to Scotland, no boat required.

[@ettinakitten5047]

Hopefully he can visit Madagascar. That'd be fun.

[@oooloo99]

I read that the island was part of the mainland,,, a million years ago or more,,,I don't remember. The animals, all fauna, we😊re isolated at that point. It would be odd if it wasn't really different on Madagascar.

[@marvalice3455]

@@oooloo99 way more than a million. More like 10 million. One million years is not even enough to make a horse.

[@honourabledoctoredwinmoria3126]

@@marvalice3455 Way more than 10 million. Madagascar has not been connected to anything since 90 million years ago, and that thing it was connected to 90 million years ago was India. That's right. India and Madagascar used to be one large island. The last time they were connected to a continent is estimated to be over 160 million years ago during the breakup of Gondwana. That is when Madagascar separated from the African plate. But even earlier than that, it is possible there is already a sea that flooded that part of the continent, so that there a geographic barrier for animals to cross, if not a geological one. The ancestors of all the native birds, mammals, and reptiles that evolved on Madagascar are all suspected of having arrived after it was an island. So the ur-lemur, ur-chameleon, and ur-euplerid all probably rafted there or much less likely swam there. The ancestor of elephant birds probably flew there from somewhere, but it could have rafted too.

[@luciengrondin5802]

Clint: Should we resurrect Moas or mammouths? Me: Sure, why not? Clint: What about T-Rex? Me: Wait, no!

[@renato7184]

Why not? That would be the most awesome ressurrection.

[@stevesaturnation]

@@renato7184because “life finds a way” You need to watch more movies bro 😢🦖

[@douglasmcgee3765]

@@renato7184 but what if it escapes?

[@renato7184]

@@douglasmcgee3765 It would be no worse than any big bird. It's not a monster like in the movies.

[@douglasmcgee3765]

@@renato7184 fair enough

[@chrislusk3497]

What a great science communicator! Superbly accessible and entertaining, without dumbing down in the slightest.

[@cheryltysver4819]

This was one of your best videos! My only experience with this subset of your videos was with an egg bound Emu that a friend who was raising Emu's had asked me to hold while he was trying to recover the egg. The job briefing was the explanation about how to avoid the claws AFTER the Emu had just missed my arms that were wrapped around it's chest that had raked a handful of feathers from it's chest that shot out in front of it ~ 6 feet! 'We' then decided that it might be a good idea to stop what 'we' were doing to gain a little better understanding of the risks involved!

[@jdts7589]

I remember requesting this 😮. Definitely watching after work. Ratites, the best modern dinos🦖

[@ClintsReptiles]

It was a great suggestion!

[@taleandclawrock2606]

I lived in Coober Pedy for a couple years, in Australian inland desert, and had a pond. One day i looked out the kitchen window and saw a pair of giant emus walk up the red dirt driveway, out of the vast desert, probably smelling water. . One of the most majestic and somewhat intimidating things ive ever seen. Im 5ft 6" and im pretty sure they were both taller than me.

[@throckmortensnivel2850]

Recently stumbled upon your videos. That was a happy day. I don't know how many are available, but I intend to watch all that I can find. Thank you for the time and effort you have put into these. Educational and entertaining.

[@therealzilch]

Nicely explained. I'm familiar with ostriches in the wild (in Tanzania), where they do not, despite what Pliny the Elder claimed and many have repeated up to today, hide their heads in the sand in case of danger, but run like hell. And as a violin bowmaker who has seen many bow grips of lizard skin, but replaces them with ostrich leg skin, can say: the relationship is obvious. Subscribed. Cheers from sunny Vienna, Scott

[@mustachadon]

Wanted to let people, who dont know, know. Brian Barczyk has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Im sending prayers and well wishes to him and his family. Regardless of peoples feelings about Brian, he is a pillar of this community and needs our support.

[@ClintsReptiles]

Brian and his family are in my prayers. I'm planning to be up to see him soon. Thank you for speaking up.

[@honey-po9ij]

i think reintroducing mammoths to the mammoth steppe would be extremely good for conservation. the area is already doing better with the recent reintroduction of large grazing herbivores, and mammoths would help to push back forests in the area, allowing for even more grazing herbivores, their weight on snow also helps keep the permafrost in the area from being insulated as much by the snow, which helps it to freeze more deeply each winter to allow for less melt in the summer months. they're also stinkin rad.

[@steakinbacon8593]

Honestly if we can bring them back we should given we were the reason they went extinct in the first place. However they should only be in North America because 1 the climate and bountiful open fields are more appropriate for them 2 they won’t be in direct competition with elephants making existence easier for both species.

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

In 2024 they're trying to D extinct the mammoth they actually have a large land set aside in Siberia I believe

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

@@steakinbacon8593 Mammoths still exist! they are Indian Elephants!

[@src3360]

When I was New Zealand I got to see a kiwi bird. Its bigger than it looks AND it has the largest egg [egg to body ratio] of any bird. The egg literally looks like an adult fits in it, it was massive. 😮😮😮😂

[@brucesearle]

This is the best presented most comprehensive and informative video I've ever seen on KZbin.

[@coggie4837]

I'm usually most interested in (scaled) reptiles, but this is my favorite video you've ever done. I've had a special fascination with ratites ever since some fieldwork in college landed me in NZ with a research partner who just happened to excavate subfossil animal remains as a hobby, and he let me tag along to dig up moa bones one weekend. I thought I'd managed to teach myself a thing or two about ratites since then, but you just taught me so much more. Thank you!

[@Bealzbob]

Listening to Clint talk about other strands of life makes you appreciate that this guy is just stinking rad at all animals full stop. Thank you Clint. You are an absolute joy and a light.

[@watsonwrote]

I absolutely love Clint's enthusiasm about these animals for the sheer remarkableness of them. It reminds me of how I felt as a kid being delighted about the existence of different animals.

[@Shh.ItsAllOkay.]

I'd never heard of or seen a picture of a Cassowary before until I found myself face to face with one (a fence between us) on a school trip to the zoo. Just calmly standing tall and staring at me. It's a surreal experience.

[@makoyoverfelt3320]

I can definitively say that your videos have made me even more insufferably annoying to my friend group, as I have easily doubled my outbursts of random animal facts and invertebrate excitement since I became a viewer. Your content is top quality, and extremely informative. Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@sampagano205]

I would challenge the claim ratites are the coolest living dinosaurs because I think corvids absolutely deserve that title. Also struthiomimus is one of my least favorite dinosaurs, and it feels wrong to declare it's modern imitator among the coolest living dinosaurs. It implies a downgrade I don't think happened.

[@the_lomax]

As a Kiwi i totally disagree. LOL

[@Exquailibur]

For me the coolest living dinosaur is the Inaccessible Island rail, anything I can't access makes me want it more

[@sampagano205]

@@the_lomax why you guys have ropes which are like the most hardcore corvids.

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

Parrots are up there too.

[@DJFracus]

parrots beat corvids for me

[@TheHappyhorus]

Just stumbled on this channel, wow, this dude knows a lot about palaeontology, and the specificity with which this dude explains things is incredible. The smiles are a little Sunny Shine though dude, I’d tone thst down a little, but that’s just me. Great video. 🎉

[@Babydoll3133]

Bring them back! Dodos and Passenger pigeons too. Also, I am a fan of the Kiwi bird as well. They are so cute! Subscribed!

[@critical_always]

I only understand every fourth word you say but your enthusiasm is infectious. I recall years back NZ presenter Paul Holmes in his daily evening show had a big announcement. A moa was located and captured on the south Island. Great anticipation for the show. Paul went there. A big build up only to reveal the captured moa in a garden shed. Moa here is a slang for mower and indeed the lawn mower was present in the shed. Lame today but man it was funny.

[@davidmathieson8661]

OK Clint, you've gone and done it... I really, and I mean REALLY need a video on those "Demon Ducks" you mentioned. Sure I could research about them myself (I probably will to an extent) but I would much prefer to hear you speak on them, that would be far more enjoyable to me

[@drew2000four]

Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@went2jared]

My favorite channel on KZbin! So much great information.

[@logenvestfold4143]

I used to take care of an emu at a now defunct aviary and zoo. He was extremely friendly and affectionate.

[@wildlifewarrior2670]

I used to work at a zoo in Michigan with emu also think we had three of them I used to work in their cages cleaning up after them and playing with them their poop sure does stink diarrhea like poop

[@wolf1066]

You are *way too delighted* about the Aussies losing a war against the emus. And as a Kiwi, I'm here for that! And I say bring back the moa - the bigger the better. One of the things that saddens me the most is that those fantastic birds went extinct. I'd love to see a live one.

[@jdx4174]

So happy you´re sprinkling in dinosaur content, and that its coming back in december!

[@Giantpenguin]

21:20 the cheerful look while going "So let's talk bodycount!" It just hilarious.

[@ressljs]

I saw this video just in time. I was about to head out and feed some cassowaries, roll around on the ground in front of them, then pick a fight with an emu. I think Clint just saved my life!

[@tenshikaren]

Haast's eagle and the Moa have always been my favorite animals, ever since I was about 7 and read an interview of a lady who remembered being a kid on an expedition to New Zealand with her father and a few of his coworkers. He told her to not go out to play when he wasn't home but she did one day and saw in the mud a large footprint that was thought for a long time to possibly be a small group of Moa, last of their kind. There was never any signs or proof, so they were continued to be categorized as extinct and even if a few were alive then it would be doubtful they still were by that interview date.

[@zander6177]

Loved this video so much I subscribed

[@BigMan-]

I grew up in Aoteroa and I would totally like for the Moa to come back

[@potatogobbler207]

I showed my wife a couple of clint's videos and she says he reminds her of Steve Erwin with the amount of joy and excitement he has when talking about animals

[@stillhere1425]

He reminds me of Vincent Price.

[@miashinbrot8388]

I would think that each species needs to be considered separately, when deciding whether to bring them back from extinction. One factor that I would consider is whether humans were (or were likely to have been) responsible for their extinction, in which case it could be said that we have a duty to restore them if we can. Another factor that is especially in favour of bringing back the elephant bird is whether their loss may mean the loss of other species -- the Madagascar tree you mentioned, in the case of the elephant bird. Do you think maybe bringing back an iconic species could raise popular opinion for restoring their habitat as well? I would say that is an excellent reason for bringing back almost any species -- not tyrannosaurs, though; far too dangerous, not just for us but for other animals. I would be very interested in learning more about the Tasmanian tiger. In fact, I think I heard once that they sometimes were kept as pets, and that they were good pets too.

[@user-it2kq4ty9q]

i think the moas would like to be alive. its such an easy question.

[@leokoogle3055]

Not a zoologist like Clint but from my own research, while Tazzies were fairly docile and non-aggressive, they would need to undergo thousands of years of domestication to be comparable to other traditional mammal pets like dogs and cats. But they would likely be easy to 'tame' (tolerate humans and form some bond with us) though probably remain skittish and piss everywhere just like 'pet' foxes. They would have great potential for positive experiences with humans which would deepen empathy for them and continue to aid in conservation efforts. So still a great candidate for revival. But less of a pet and more of a sanctuary animal.

[@onewingedangel9189]

Bringing back non avian Dinosaurs is impossible with modern technology as DNA degrades completely after a million years, so no need to worry about Tyrannosaurus.

[@conlon4332]

@@leokoogle3055 There was an experiment of domesticating foxes. With intensive selective breeding, they were able to domesticate them in only 40 years. They only bred the foxes that responded to humans with curiosity, in oppose to the more common fear or aggression.

[@PARAMONARIOS]

Double crossovers always impress me so much!

[@Tet68]

Your entusiasm and passion for this subject is amazing. I was hanged on ever word I did not understand or be able to pronounce. I learned so much I did not know. Birds are reptiles and we will even though we should not. Unentended consequences and the like.

[@13deadghosts]

22:27 "Don't fight Emus!" - Dissapointed Ben noises (The Urban Rescue Ranch)

[@taleandclawrock2606]

An indigenous friend from Torres Strait Islands painted me a giant bird that was his families 'skin' responsibility ( like a totem animal). He told me it was extinct for many generations. It had short muscular legs relative to its tall standing height, upright neck, its head looked quite small with a low crest, and he said their ancestors used to breed them, keeping them in family groups.

[@patmac1134]

Very well presented, I subscribed. A lot of interesting facts.

[@matthewt8214]

Every video from this channel is captivating ❤

[@jeffreywickens3379]

This guy is really a great presenter, very knowledgeable, enthusiastic and fun.

[@ithulah]

I remember seeing a couple of kiwis when I lived in NZ for a year. They were so obviously filling the niche of a small mammal, since NZ doesn't have any native terrestrial mammals (they have bats). That's one thing I think you neglected to mention, and another reason many island birds lose their wings so quickly. They arrive on an island already full of birds, perhaps a reptile species or two, various land crabs but often with very few or no mammals. It's in their best interests to try out the ground. Kiwis certainly are unusual birds though. I'm Australian and have had many many encounters with aggressive, territorial and hungry emu! They peck very hard and you need to guard your food and protect your face. But we're the ones in their habitat so it's not so surprising. Just don't put down your car window when passing them by!! They will take anything you're holding through the window in a flash! 😂

[@apveening]

So emus are true to form for Aussie wild life, they will (try to) kill you.

[@handtomouth4690]

...he did mention that in this video...27:27-28:57 maybe don't say something was neglected to be mentioned if you're just going to skip the entire chunk that states exactly what you said.

[@lorieobradovich3428]

I absolutely LOVE your channel!! Your knowledge base is, clearly, massive and you don't talk down to your viewers. You are also very engaging to watch and listen to. As to, "should we?", my answer is a hard NO. We can't stop eradicating the species we have now, why bring more that will, ultimately suffer the same fate?

[@FuturesWritten]

Love your enthusiasm!!

[@Sarappreciates]

Suggestion: I'd like to know how an Emu ranks as a pet because my father in law had a flock of them in Wisconsin. Some got out, and were found to have broken into at an old, abandoned hotel. The cops called him to come get them, they had them cornered in to lobby... He managed to get all but one. It's still loose, possibly dead by now, but there are sometimes sightings. It's freaking hilarious!

[@donnaackels5686]

You are a delight and I learn so much. Thank you😊😊😊

[@LaMirah]

Aurochs haven't been found on the wild since the 1600, I believe, and yet their domesticated descendants are a fundamental part of much of human civilization. Even if they cannot be reintroduced in the wild, such charismatic birds like Elephant Birds should be brought back And you're right, Dodos would likely make _amazing_ pets.

[@Kerry-G]

Aurochs are seriously being discussed as far as bringing them back and it won’t be as hard as some may think

[@MicheleConnell-qn5tl]

wasn't there an attempt to re-breed an auroch type beasty by the germans pre and during ww2? In and around Poland or something. They got some pretty big beasties, but none survived the war. I apologise for any errors - I will now go and look it up again. Love your content - just subscribed and looking forward to going through your vids.❤😊

[@ryomahoffman6803]

I’m going to make it a goal of mine to meet every single species of ratite at least once. I already have a few to check off the list! I know I’ve definitely seen an ostrich in a zoo before, but it’s been a while since I’ve been to a proper zoo and I’d like to see one again. Last month I went to the Caversham wildlife park in Western Australia and was lucky enough to see both an emu and a very handsome cassowary. It’s definitely a dream of mine to see a kiwi in New Zealand someday, a dream that I plan to achieve. Might as well add rhea on the list too. And in terms of the extinct species, I guess we’ll wait and see lol. If only u had posted this video a little earlier, then I would’ve had cool ratite facts to annoy a staff and/or family member with lol.

[@wildchild9613]

I think moas and elephant birds should be revived again because it might actually help the planet more. Plus we can get to know an amazing reptile that most people have never seen before. I’m fascinated by birds, especially very colorful ones like the Himalayan monal pheasant for example.. But my favorite bird might be the Philippine eagle. It may not be a pheasant or a peacock with bright, iridescent wing color but when I look at it, I feel like it is the most beautiful bird in the world. I love the crest, the blue-grey eyes, the talons, and it’s so cool to know they are the largest eagles in the world… ❤

[@anticksss]

I worked on a kind of farm for a while and they had two emus on the property. They're beautiful creatures, it was cool and unnerving to stand next to one cause they are so reminiscent of dinosaurs, at least visually

[@kob8634]

Well, so delightful to stumble on this channel. The "hideous" optimism in your voice is infectous... nice job, well done.

[@rylandfrederick431]

Clint I have some sad news, dodo birds would not make good pets, apparently the dodo was quite "bitey" as described by the sailors who found them. Though are are still equally adorable

[@Daft_Vader]

Similar to the modern day qokka

[@JohnAvillaHerpetocultural]

Cockatoos are bitey too.

[@jennifersaar1611]

Or maybe they were bitey because they were wild birds, and sailors kept trying to catch them.

[@rylandfrederick431]

@@jennifersaar1611 indeed, but it was probably curiosity as dodos had a high brain to body weight ratio, and also had 0 fear of the first sailors

[@jennifersaar1611]

@@rylandfrederick431 True enough, but if they were intelligent, they would have very quickly learned that humans were bad news. Especially after seeing other birds captured or killed. And the killing likely started as soon as the sailors were off the boat, because that is what hungry sailors who have been living on rations at sea would do.

[@richardvogel1195]

Wonderful video. Several years ago I was on a ranch and the owners told me to go where you want be don't be surprised if you see something unusual. Walked around and a huge bird walked up to me. At the time I didn't know birds very well and thought I didn't know emus had horns on their heads. This bird stayed within 8 feet of us for hours until we walked up on a group of young pigs and it tried to stomp on all of them and ran off with them. Good times

[@jasonpeal9217]

This guy's enthusiasm is infectious.

[@williamgraham2468]

Very captivating and informative! This reminds me of the time when one of the emus at the Calgary Zoo had just laid an egg, and the staff were all excited about it. I got to see the emu egg too. I think any species that is extinct due to humans is a candidate for de-extinction.

[@janzizka9963]

I find this video extremely satisfying and watching it again and again. As a paleontology nerd I knew most of these things already but this is just satisfying 😍

[@mrturveydrop]

Been watching you (and subscribed to you) awhile now, as I find your video style to be right up there with the best teachers I ever had: an irrepressible and infectious joy for every subject matter you present. Thanks to you I will have to have a Dumeril's Boa, a Bearded Anole, a Green Keel-Bellied Lizard, a BioActive enlosure for my ridiculously cute Rubber Ducky Isopod...the list is endless. But now, NOW, you've given us a lesson in what has been, for my entire life since I was a small child and heard the words "Elephant Bird" and "Moa", an absolute obsession of mine. Thank you so much for this!!! I am definitely Team "Bring "em All Back!", and, for what it's worth, you've a new Patreon Supporter. Thank you!

[@capnmoby13]

I've been a patreon supporter for a few years now. You will love the extras videos every week! Lots of humor and info!

[@nilsg.nelson-molin1170]

Clint, you are a TRULY WONDERFUL lecturer, well pardon the term, "lecturer",just don't t know a better. Anyway, what I find really, really helpful is, for one, your fluency with the terms. Yes, the actual gnarly Latin binomial nomenclature, but more! You show us, out here, the students so to speak, what "terms fluency" might mean. The levels of classification, well of course- we must become familiar with these distinctions too, and their names as well. It's so great to witness the system functioning, like a well-lubed machine. You move quickly, fluently through groups of animals(classification of)- and NEVER lose your place in this complex, multi-layered net of topics. Remarkable! Your humour is perfect. Your videos truly show us the joy this work brings you. It makes the viewer/student wish he or she was, oh, your assistant or something. I especially love how, well, excited you can be talking on certain animals(like kiwis). The animals that seem almost magical in some ways, though we know magic wasn't required. Just lots& lots of time with long stable periods Allowing adaptation to occur. Some nearly impassable bio-barriers that very occasionally might open for a while. Or not. This is my first comment on your work. Suffice to say, I love it. You communicate superbly, Clint. Thank you,,, and don't stop, please. Nils Nelson-Molin

[@delphicdescant]

Yes, bring them *all* back. Everything we have the genome for. Maybe not necessarily to introduce into the wild, but at least to study. I think everything should be archived.

[@EarthWalkerOne]

What about Neanderthals and other hominids?

[@delphicdescant]

@@EarthWalkerOne Tough question. I think it would still be worth doing, but with a lot of care given to the ethical mire involved.

[@timothymulholland7905]

I grew up in Central Brazil in the 50s and 60s. We often saw emus running near the roads and in the bush. Unfortunately they were hunted for their meat. They have often been kept in pairs in people’s yards as guard birds and snake eaters. The presidential palace in Brasilia has several pairs to this day.

[@StephBer1]

That's fascinating! As an Australian, I never knew they roamed freely in another country. They must have been shipped to Brazil sometime long ago. I'm surprised they're hunted for meat, and saddened. They are amazing birds and comical to look at when they "play". We don't really keep any of our native animals as pets because we prefer them in the wild. The only ones kept in captivity are because they can't be returned to the wild or were bred in captivity. They are good guards though. Noisy, curious and angry, when they want to be. I hope they continue to live in Brazil for a long time and aren't hunted out.

[@bloopboop9320]

Emus dont live in Brazil, but Rheas do. The Portuguese word for Rhea is Ema, which is very confusing as it sounds like Emu. The only reason an Emu would be in Brazil is if someone imported it there.

[@piediddly]

Thank you SO much for this video! As a lover of birds in general, with my favorites residing amongst the corvids, parrots, & ratites. My absolute favorite within ratites is the cassowary, specifically because they are a species in which is it very visually apparent, that they are, in fact, a surviving lineage of dinosaurs.

[@PaulStClair-jr9wp]

Having been fortunate enough to see a cassowary up close in the rainforest of northern Australia, I can confirm that they are, indeed, AWESOME in all senses of the word

[@thesenate4630]

I live in southern ohio and we had an emu population escape from a emu farm about 15 years ago, they established a wild population for a good couple years before the cold finally got them, but I remember seeing emus that had integrated into the wild in the midwestern united states. Crazy stuff.

[@Orca-stra]

Your phylogeny videos are one of my favorite things I have ever come across on KZbin.

[@neilarcher6451]

Great video, as always. And Dinosaur December is coming back?! That's good to hear! But can we pleeeeeaaase do a Jurrassic June too? Just asking for a friend.

[@AvengerofGallifrey]

Please do a video exclusively about deextinction! It's such an interesting discussion that I feel like rarely gets the coverage it deserves. Most takes I see boil down to "Deextinction is cool af in concept, but should we do it?" without really examining the dilemma in any real depth, but it's such a fascinating one! How would we raise a revived population? What would the ecological effects be? How would reintroducing now-extinct species affect their ecosystems? There are so many interesting questions to examine here that get the spotlight far too rarely, which is a shame!

[@sethgeyer1719]

As an Australian your significant ramp down in enthusiasm between saying cassowary vs Emu is completely valid.