Cygnus falconeri

Cygnus falconeri is an extinct, very large swan known from Middle Pleistocene-aged deposits from Malta and Sicily. Its dimensions are described as exceeding those of the living mute swan by one-third, which would give a bill-to-tail length of about 190–210 cm (75–83 in) (based on 145–160 cm for C. olor). By comparison to the bones of living swans, it can be estimated that it weighed around 16 kg (35 lb) and had a wingspan of about 3 m (9.8 ft). Due to its size, it may have been flightless. The remains of the species are associated with the Elephas mnaidriensis faunal complex, and became extinct long before the arrival of people to Sicily and Malta. Its bones are exhibited at Għar Dalam museum in Birżebbuġa, Malta.

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