Elephant bird egg (Aepyornis maximus) 30cm compared to a Calliope hummingbird egg (Stellula calliope) 12mm. The Aepyornis egg volume holds around 7 to 10 litres, the hummingbird's a few millilitres. The elephant bird Aepyornis Maximus, laid the largest eggs (and hence the largest single cells) of any animal including the extinct dinosaurs. Scientists postulate it is at the extreme of size that a calcified egg shell can reach. It is robust, whilst at the same time having a thin enough shell for the hatchling to be able to escape. The extinction of Aepyornis appears to have been related to human colonisation of Madagascar in the last 1000 years. The last Aepyornis may have survived to the 16th century. This egg was found in sand dunes near Cap Sainte Marie in the extreme south of Madagascar.