North Island Takahe
Encyclopedia
The North Island Takahē or Mōho, Porphyrio mantelli, is an extinct rail
that was found in the North Island
of New Zealand
. This flightless species is known from subfossils from a number of archeological sites and from one possible 1894 record (Phillipps, 1959). It appeared to have been even larger than the South Island Takahē
and, if it did survive until the 1890s, would have been the largest rail in historic times.
The decline of the species has generally been attributed to the increasing incursion of forest into the alpine grasslands through the Holocene
, although hunting by the Māori also played a major role.
Traditionally the North Island Takahē was considered conspecific with the threatened South Island Takahe
P. hochstetteri. Trewick (1996) presented evidence that the two taxa were independently derived from flying ancestors, so proved to be separate species.
The binomial of this bird commemorates the naturalist and civil servant Walter Mantell
.
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
that was found in the North Island
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...
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...
. This flightless species is known from subfossils from a number of archeological sites and from one possible 1894 record (Phillipps, 1959). It appeared to have been even larger than the South Island Takahē
Takahe
The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
and, if it did survive until the 1890s, would have been the largest rail in historic times.
The decline of the species has generally been attributed to the increasing incursion of forest into the alpine grasslands through the 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"...
, although hunting by the Māori also played a major role.
Traditionally the North Island Takahē was considered conspecific with the threatened South Island Takahe
Takahe
The Takahē or South Island Takahē, Porphyrio hochstetteri is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898...
P. hochstetteri. Trewick (1996) presented evidence that the two taxa were independently derived from flying ancestors, so proved to be separate species.
The binomial of this bird commemorates the naturalist and civil servant Walter Mantell
Walter Mantell
Walter Baldock Durrant Mantell was a 19th century New Zealand scientist, politician, and Land Purchase Commissioner. He was a founder and first secretary of the New Zealand Institute, and discovered and collected Moa remains....
.