Paul D Stewart / Massed egg shell debris from a nesting ground of the extinct giant Madagascan Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus). The fragments were photographed undisturbed in situ among the dunes of Cap Sainte Marie...

Paul D Stewart / Massed egg shell debris from a nesting ground of the extinct giant Madagascan Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus). The fragments were photographed undisturbed in situ among the dunes of Cap Sainte Marie...

Paul D Stewart / Elephant bird egg (Aepyornis maximus) 30cm compared to a Calliope hummingbird egg (Stellula calliope) 12mm. The Aepyornis egg volume holds around 7 to 10 litres, the hummingbird's a few millilitres. T...

Nick Garbutt / Two Elephant bird (Aepyornis sp.) skeletons on display, alongside replica of bird egg. The Elephant bird became extinct within the past 1000 years due to overhunting by humans, Madagascar.

Nick Garbutt / Egg size comparison to scale: extinct Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus) - shell reconstructed from fragments found in dry river beds in southern Madagascar -, Common ostrich (Struthio camelus) and D...

Nick Garbutt / Egg size comparison to scale: extinct Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus) - shell reconstructed from fragments found in dry river beds in southern Madagascar - and Common ostrich (Struthio camelus). Pho...

Nick Garbutt / Egg size comparison to scale: extinct Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus) and Common ostrich (Struthio camelus). Photographed with multiple flash set up.

Nick Garbutt / Egg of extinct Elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus). Photographed with multiple flash set up.