Bournemouth University scientists debunk a 150-year-old 'extinct' giant crane

Study solved a 150-year-old mystery into the identity of the extinct giant crane

Bones found in French caves and named Grus primigenia by Alphonse Milne-Edwards in the 19th century were long thought to belong to an extinct giant crane. A Bournemouth University team led by Dr John Stewart, working with the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Stockholm, extracted ancient DNA from 18 crane bones found across England, Wales, France, Germany and the Balearic Islands. The results show the bones came from oversized common cranes, not a separate species — likely males, since cranes are strongly size-dimorphic. The finding hints that some past bird extinctions may have been misidentified.