New Zealand owlet-nightjar
New Zealand owlet-nightjar Temporal range: Quaternary | |
---|---|
Conservation status | |
Extinct (1400s) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Clade: | Strisores |
Order: | Aegotheliformes |
Family: | Aegothelidae |
Genus: | Aegotheles |
Species: | †A. novazealandiae |
Binomial name | |
†Aegotheles novazealandiae (Scarlett 1968) | |
Synonyms | |
Megaegotheles novazealandiae |
The New Zealand owlet-nightjar (Aegotheles novazealandiae) (Māori: Ruru hinapō)[1] is an extinct, comparatively large species of owlet-nightjar (family Aegothelidae) formerly endemic to the islands of New Zealand. Fossil remains (which are common in the pellets of the extinct laughing owl) indicate the species was once widespread across both the North Island and the South Island.[2]
Description
The New Zealand owlet-nightjar was the largest species of owlet-nightjar, weighing an estimated 150–200 g. The species was also either flightless, as suggested by its small wings, or a very poor flier (the species has a strong keel). The diet probably consisted of invertebrates, as well as frogs and lizards.
Extinction
The species most likely rapidly became extinct after the Māori arrived in New Zealand, introducing Pacific rats. Their remains have never been found in association with Māori middens, and are unlikely to have been hunted due to their small size and nocturnal habits. Despite a small number of reports of small owls being found in the 19th century that may have been New Zealand owlet-nightjars, the species is thought to have become extinct around 1400 AD.
References
- ^ "New Zealand owlet-nightjar | Ruru hinapō | New Zealand Birds Online". nzbirdsonline.org.nz. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ Holdaway, Richard N.; Jones, Martin D.; Beavan Athfield, Nancy R. (2002). "Late Holocene extinction of the New Zealand owlet-nightjar Aegotheles novaezealandiae". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 32 (4): 653–667. Bibcode:2002JRSNZ..32..653H. doi:10.1080/03014223.2002.9517714. S2CID 129691446.
- Worthy, Trevor H., & Holdaway, Richard N. (2002) The Lost World of the Moa, Indiana University Press: Bloomington, ISBN 0-253-34034-9
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birds
- Bellbird (korimako)
- Black-billed gull (tarāpuka)
- Brown creeper (pipipi)
- Brown teal (pāteke)
- Buff-banded rail (moho-pererū)
- Dabchick (weweia)
- Double-banded plover (pohowera)
- New Zealand falcon (kārearea)
- Fantail (pīwakawaka)
- Grey warbler (riroriro)
- Grey-faced petrel (ōi)
- Sacred kingfisher (kōtare)
- Long-tailed cuckoo (koekoeā)
- Kererū
- Pipit (pīhoihoi)
- New Zealand dotterel (tūturiwhatu)
- South Island robin
- North Island robin
- New Zealand scaup (pāpango)
- Paradise shelduck (pūtangitangi)
- Pūkeko
- Rifleman (tītipounamu)
- New Zealand rock wren (pīwauwau)
- Shining cuckoo (pīpīwharauroa)
- Silvereye (tauhou)
- South Island oystercatcher (tōrea)
- Spotted shag (pārekareka)
- Tomtit (miromiro)
- Tūī
- Variable oystercatcher (tōrea pango)
- White-fronted tern (tara)
- Whitehead (pōpokotea)
- Wrybill (ngutuparore)
birds
- Great spotted kiwi (roroa)
- Little spotted kiwi (kiwi pukupuku)
- North Island brown kiwi (roroa)
- Okarito kiwi (rowi)
- Southern brown kiwi (tokoeka)
- Yellow-eyed penguin (hoiho)
- Kākāpō
- South Island takahē
- Fiordland penguin (tawaki)
- Weka
- Blue penguin (kororā)
endemic birds
(flying)
- Black-fronted tern (tarapiroe)
- Black stilt (kakī)
- Blue duck (whio)
- Fernbird (mātātā)
- Foveaux shag
- Kākā
- Kea
- North Island kōkako
- South Island kōkako
- New Zealand fairy tern (tara-iti)
- New Zealand king shag (kawau tūī)
- New Zealand storm petrel (takahikare)
- Northern royal albatross
- Otago shag (Matapo)
- Orange-fronted parakeet (kākāriki karaka)
- Red-billed gull (tarāpunga)
- North Island saddleback (tīeke)
- South Island saddleback (tīeke)
- Shore plover (tūturuatu)
- Stitchbird (hihi)
- Yellowhead (mōhua)
birds
- Black robin (karure)
- Chatham albatross (toroa)
- Chatham gerygone
- Chatham oystercatcher (tōrea)
- Chatham parakeet
- Chatham petrel (ranguru)
- Chatham pigeon (parea)
- Chatham shag (papua)
- Chatham snipe
- Magenta petrel (tāiko)
- Pitt shag (kawau o rangihaute)
birds
- Antipodean albatross (Toroa)
- Auckland rail
- Auckland shag
- Auckland teal (tētē kākāriki)
- Antipodes parakeet
- Bounty shag
- Campbell albatross
- Campbell shag
- Campbell teal
- Erect-crested penguin (tawaki nana hī)
- Reischek's parakeet
- Snares snipe
- Snares penguin (pokotiwha)
- Subantarctic snipe (tutukiwi)
birds
- South Island piopio (piopio)
- New Zealand bittern (kaoriki)
- New Zealand quail (koreke)
- Huia
- Haast's eagle
- Moa
- North Island adzebill
- South Island adzebill
- Auckland Island merganser (rakiraki maungahuka)
- Chatham Island merganser
- Bushwren (mātuhituhi)
- Long-billed wren
- South Island stout-legged wren
- North Island stout-legged wren
- Lyall's wren
- Chatham kākā
- Laughing owl (whēkau)
- Chatham penguin
- Waitaha penguin
- Eyles' harrier (kērangi)
- North Island little spotted kiwi
- North Island snipe
- South Island snipe
- Forbes's snipe
- Snipe-rail
- Imber's petrel
- Scarlett's shearwater (ōiruki)
- North Island takahē (moho)
- New Zealand goose
- Finsch's duck (manutahora)
- New Zealand owlet-nightjar (ruru hinapō)
- New Zealand musk duck
- New Zealand swan (poūwa)
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