Expert: Roger Lederer - 4/1/2010

Question
Good Afternoon~
We have some old egg shell pieces that were given to us by Grandma.  She is a naturalist and very well traveled and educated.  She has told us that it is "Aepyornis" egg shell found at Faux Cap beach in Madagascar found 11/1973.  From all the info I can find, which is VERY limited, I don't know.  Is there somewhere we can take the pieces to have them identified and possabily pieced back together?  We are just looking for information on it.
Thanks~
Tanya

Answer
I suggest you start with your local university or natural history museum. I don't know where you live so I can't be any more specific. They should be able to give you further suggestions. There is a lot of information on Aepyornis, but I don't know that any of it would help you identify the egg. You need someone who knows the thickness and curvature of the Elephant Bird egg to compare it to this one. There are certainly museums somewhere in the world that could do it if your local ones can't.