This massive species was discovered by W.B.D. Mantell at Awamoa, near Oamaru, and the bones were taken by him to England. A skeleton was built up of the bones of several individual birds and placed on view in the British Musem. This bird was described by Richard owen as Dinornis elephantopus.
The Heavy–footed Moa was massive for its height, being the most thick set Moa. It was about 1.8 metres tall. Its short thick legs supported a body weighing as much as 145 kilograms.
The bills of Moa are adapted to cut twigs and leaves. The bills of anomalopertyx were better constructed for cutting and probably functioned like secaturs. They would have been able to give a nasty bite.
The bird was widespread in the South Island east of the Alps.
