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Aves - Neognathae - Galliformes - Megapodiidae - Macrocephalon - Macrocephalon maleo

Cranium (Skull) of a Macrocephalon maleo (Maleo)

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Species Description
The Maleo is a medium-sized terrestrial megapode (large-footed bird) endemic to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Also known as the Incubator Bird, the Maleo is recognizable by the prominent dark, bony casque (cephalon) on the head. It lives in tropical lowland and hill forests, where it feeds mostly on fruits, seeds, insects and other small invertebrates. Unlike most birds, the Maleo does not brood its eggs. Instead, it buries them in sandy areas (such as beaches) where the warm sand will incubate the eggs; sex ratios in the Maleo may be determined by nest temperature, but this has not been confirmed. It can take up to two days for a Maleo hatchling to tunnel out from its nest, and the young are superprecocial (totally independent after hatching).
Skeletal Elements Available

Sternum (Breast Bone)	Cranium (Skull)	Mandible (Jawbone )
Right Humerus (Right Upper Arm Bone)	Furcula (Wishbone)

External Links
Animal Diversity Web Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Maleo Page