Scientists have studied the fossil remains of dromornithids - the largest birds that have ever lived on Earth. This helped them figure out why these giant creatures became extinct, according to Forbes..

Dromornithids are also known as thunderbirds or demon ducks.. They lived in what is now Australia in the distant past.. In a new study, scientists studied the bones of these creatures found within the Flinders Ranges, South Australia and near Alice Springs, which told scientists about how these birds reproduced, as well as how this may have affected their extinction..

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During the study, scientists compared the bones of the largest and largest member of this group, Dromornis stirtoni, three meters tall and weighing 600 kilograms, with the last and smallest, Genyornis newtoni, two meters tall and weighing "

As a result, scientists found that Dromornis stirtoni took a very long time to grow and become sexually mature, probably about 15 years.. Genyornis newtoni grew faster, reaching adult size in just a few years and starting breeding shortly thereafter.. But in any case, this growth was much slower than that of all modern birds, which grow to adult size in just a year and can give birth as early as the second year..

The last dromornithids shared habitat with the emu, which is now the third largest bird in the world.. They grow to adult size in one to two years and are already capable of reproduction.. This strategy allows the population to recover quickly when favorable conditions return after long periods of drought or lack of food, which can lead to a reduction in the number of individuals..

Dromornithids managed to survive climatic changes, but about 50 thousand years ago, people began to burn bushes and hunt large animals.. The different breeding strategies of dromornithids and emus gave the latter an advantage when these birds crossed paths with humans.. The last representatives of giant birds died out about 40 thousand years ago..

Previously, paleontologists discovered the fossil remains of a flying reptile that lived on Earth 86 million years ago.. They testify that in those distant times, "