New Zealand Raven
Encyclopedia
The New Zealand Raven was native to the North Island
and South Island
of New Zealand
but is now extinct. There were two subspecies
: the North Island Raven (Corvus antipodum antipodum Forbes, 1893) and the South Island Raven (Corvus antipodum pycrofti Gill, 2003). Another closely related raven species
occurred on the Chatham Islands
, namely the Chatham Islands Raven
(Corvus moriorum Forbes, 1892).
The holotype
of the South Island Raven (Corvus antipodum pycrofti) is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
.
New Zealand Ravens were large crows with long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crow
s (Corvus hawaiiensis). They were significantly smaller than the Chatham Island Raven, and the South Island subspecies was rather larger than the North Island subspecies.'
Remains of New Zealand Ravens are most common in Pleistocene
and Holocene
coastal sites. On the coast, it may have frequented seal and penguin colonies or fed in the intertidal zone, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven
Corvus tasmanicus. It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow
Corvus moneduloides, but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest.
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
but is now extinct. There were two subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
: the North Island Raven (Corvus antipodum antipodum Forbes, 1893) and the South Island Raven (Corvus antipodum pycrofti Gill, 2003). Another closely related raven species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
occurred on the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
, namely the Chatham Islands Raven
Chatham Islands Raven
The Chatham Islands Raven was a large songbird native to the Chatham Islands . Another closely related raven occurred on the North Island and South Island of New Zealand, namely the New Zealand Raven, C. antipodum. This was formerly included in C...
(Corvus moriorum Forbes, 1892).
The holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
of the South Island Raven (Corvus antipodum pycrofti) is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
.
New Zealand Ravens were large crows with long, broad bills that were not as arched as those of some of the Hawaiian Crow
Hawaiian Crow
The Hawaiian Crow or Alalā is a species of bird in the crow family, Corvidae. It is about the size of the Carrion Crow at in length, but with more rounded wings and a much thicker bill. It has soft, brownish-black plumage and long, bristly throat feathers; the feet, legs and bill are black...
s (Corvus hawaiiensis). They were significantly smaller than the Chatham Island Raven, and the South Island subspecies was rather larger than the North Island subspecies.'
Remains of New Zealand Ravens are most common in Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
and Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
coastal sites. On the coast, it may have frequented seal and penguin colonies or fed in the intertidal zone, as does the Tasmanian Forest Raven
Forest Raven
The Forest Raven is a large species of the crow genus native to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania.-Description:The Forest Raven is 50–52 cm in length with glossy black plumage and a white iris. It has a proportionately larger bill and shorter tail than the other mainland corvid species and...
Corvus tasmanicus. It may also have depended on fruit, like the New Caledonian Crow
New Caledonian Crow
The New Caledonian Crow is a tool-using species of crow endemic to New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands. These crows are some of the only non-primate animals known to invent new tools by modifying existing ones, and then passing these innovations on to other individuals in the cultural group...
Corvus moneduloides, but it is difficult to understand why a fruit eater would have been most common in coastal forest and shrubland when fruit was distributed throughout the forest.
External links
- New Zealand Raven. Corvus antipodum. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
- The Extinction Website