upland moa
{{Short description|Extinct species of flightless bird}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{speciesbox
| fossil_range = Pleistocene-Holocene
| name = Upland moa
| image = Megalapteryx didinus mount (1).jpg
| image_caption = Mounted skeleton from Honeycomb Hill Cave, collection of Te Papa
| status = EX
| status_system = NZTCS
| extinct = {{circa|1500}}
| display_parents = 4
| grandparent_authority = Bunce et al., 2009
| genus = Megalapteryx
| parent_authority = Haast 1886
| species = didinus
| authority = (Owen, 1883){{cite web| url= http://sn2000.taxonomy.nl/Taxonomicon/TaxonTree.aspx?id=51298 | title=The Taxonomicon | access-date=21 January 2010 | last=Brands | first=Sheila J. | year=1989 | publisher=Universal Taxonomic Services | location=Zwaag, Netherlands}}{{cite web |author = Checklist Committee Ornithological Society of New Zealand |year=2010 |title=Checklist-of-Birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands and the Ross Dependency Antarctica |url=http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/sites/all/files/checklist/Checklist-of-Birds.pdf |publisher=Te Papa Press |access-date= 4 January 2016}}
| synonyms = {{collapsible list|bullets = true|title=list
|Palaeocasuarius Forbes 1892 ex Rothschild 1907
|Dinornis didinus Owen 1882 ex Owen 1883
|Anomalopteryx didina (Owen 1883) Lydekker 1891
|Megalapteryx hectori Haast 1884 ex Haast 1886
|Megalapteryx tenuipes Lydekker, 1891
|Megalapteryx hamiltoni Rothschild 1907
|Palaeocasuarius velox Forbes 1892 ex Rothschild 1907
|Palaeocasuarius elegans Rothschild 1907
|Palaeocasuarius haasti Forbes 1892 ex Rothschild 1907
|Megalapteryx benhami Archey 1941
}}
}}
The upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) is an extinct species of moa that was endemic to New Zealand. The species was named by Richard Owen in 1883, and belongs to the ratites, a group of flightless birds with no keel on the sternum. Of all moa species, Megalapteryx didinus has the best-preserved specimens, which occasionally also show impressions of soft tissue. The upland moa lived on the South Island of New Zealand, and was predominantly found in alpine and sub-alpine environment where it fed on flowers, herbs and other vegetation. After the Māori arrived in New Zealand and started hunting it, the species went extinct around 1500 CE. It was the last remaining moa species.
Taxonomy
The upland moa was named as Dinornis didinus in 1883 by Richard Owen from mummified material found in 1878 by H. L. Squires in Queenstown, New Zealand and subsequently sent to the British Museum. The holotype specimen consists of a mummified head and partial neck, and two mummified legs and feet which preserve the feathers.{{cite journal |last1=Owen |first1=Richard |title=On Dinornis (Part XXIV): containing a Description of the Head and Feet, with their dried Integuments, of an Individual of the species Dinornis didinus, Owen |journal=Transactions of the Zoological Society of London |date=1883 |volume=11 |issue=8 |pages=257–261 |url=https://archive.org/details/transactionsofzo11zool/page/257/mode/1up |access-date=7 July 2023 |publisher=London : Zoological Society of London}}
In 2005, a genetic study suggested that Megalapteryx benhami, which had previously been considered a junior synonym of M. didinus, may be a valid species after all.{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0409435102| title = Reconstructing the tempo and mode of evolution in an extinct clade of birds with ancient DNA: The giant moas of New Zealand| journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences| volume = 102| issue = 23| pages = 8257–62| year = 2005| last1 = Baker | first1 = A. J.| last2 = Huynen | first2 = L. J.| last3 = Haddrath | first3 = O.| last4 = Millar | first4 = C. D.| last5 = Lambert | first5 = D. M. | pmid=15928096 | pmc=1149408| bibcode = 2005PNAS..102.8257B| doi-access = free}}{{cite encyclopedia |last=Davies |first=S. J. J. F.|editor=Hutchins, Michael |encyclopedia=Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia |title=Moas |edition=2 |year=2003 |publisher=Gale Group |volume=8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins |location=Farmington Hills, MI|isbn=978-0-7876-5784-0 |pages=95–98}}
The cladogram below follows a 2009 analysis by Bunce et al.:{{Cite journal | last1 = Bunce | first1 = M. | last2 = Worthy | first2 = T. H. | last3 = Phillips | first3 = M. J. | last4 = Holdaway | first4 = R. N. | last5 = Willerslev | first5 = E. | last6 = Haile | first6 = J. | last7 = Shapiro | first7 = B. | last8 = Scofield | first8 = R. P. | last9 = Drummond | first9 = A. | last10 = Kamp | doi = 10.1073/pnas.0906660106 | first10 = P. J. J. | last11 = Cooper | first11 = A. | title = The evolutionary history of the extinct ratite moa and New Zealand Neogene paleogeography | journal = Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | volume = 106 | issue = 49 | pages = 20646–20651 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19923428| pmc = 2791642| bibcode = 2009PNAS..10620646B | url = http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/5109/1/extinct_ratite_moa.pdf | doi-access = free }}
{{clade| style=font-size:80%;line-height:80%
|label1=Dinornithiformes
|1={{clade
|1={{clade
|label1=Megalapteryidae
|1={{clade
|1=Megalapteryx didinus
}}
|label2=Dinornithidae
|2={{clade
|label1=Dinornis
|1={{clade
|1=D. robustus
}}
}}
}}
|label2=Emeidae
|2={{clade
|label1=Pachyornis
|1={{clade
|1=P. australis
|2={{clade
}}
}}
|2={{clade
|2={{clade
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
Description
At less than {{convert|1|metre|feet|}} tall and about {{convert|17 to 34|kilogram|lbs}} in weight, the upland moa is among the smallest known moa species.{{Cite journal |last1=Vickers-Rich |first1=P. |last2=Trusler |first2=P. |last3=Rowley |first3=M. J. |last4=Cooper |first4=A. |date=1995-01-01 |title=Morphology, myology, collagen and DNA of a mummified upland moa, Megalapteryx didinus (Aves: dinorthiformes) from New Zealand |url=https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/learn/research/research-publications/tuhinga-our-research-journal/tuhinga-4-1995 |journal=Tuhinga: The Records of the Museum of New Zealand te Papa Tongarewa |volume=4 |pages=1–26}} Unlike other moas, it had feathers covering all of its body but the beak and the soles of its feet, an adaptation to living in cold environments.Flannery, Tim, "A Gap in Nature: Discovering the World's Extinct Animals", October 2001, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=EkwHXL5HwwUC&pg=PP13]" Scientists previously believed that the upland moa held its neck and head upright; however, more recent study has shown that it actually carried itself in a stooped posture, with its head level to its back. This would have helped it travel through the abundant vegetation present in its habitat, whereas an extended neck would have been more suited to open spaces.Museum of New Zealand, "Upland Moa", 1998, http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/theme.aspx?irn=1348 The upland moa had no wings or tail.TerraNature, "Flightless Birds: Moa", http://terranature.org/moa.htm
= Soft tissue =
The species has the best-preserved mummified remains of any moa species.{{Cite book |last=Tennyson |first=Alan J. D. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/80016906 |title=Extinct birds of New Zealand |date=2006 |publisher=Te Papa Press |others=Paul Martinson |isbn=978-0-909010-21-8 |location=Wellington, N.Z. |pages=20 |oclc=80016906}} Several specimens with soft tissue and feather remains are known:
- British Museum A16, found at Queenstown in 1876, is the type of the species preserving a mummified head and partial neck along with two mummified partial hindlimbs.
- Otago Museum C.68.2A, leg with much muscle tissue, skin and feathers from the Old Man Range
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa NMNZ S.000400, a skeleton with tissue on neck and head from the Cromwell area.{{Cite web |author=Museum of New Zealand(a) |title=Megalapteryx didinus |url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=90846 |access-date=18 July 2010 |work=Collections Online |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa}}
- MNZTPT NMNZ S.023808, a foot with some muscle and sinews, found on 7 January 1987 at Mount Owen. This was dated to be about 3,300–3,400 years old.{{cite journal |last=Worthy |first=Trevor H. |year=1989 |title=Mummified moa remains from Mt Owen, northwest Nelson |url=http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_36-1989/Notornis_36_1.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Notornis |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=36–38 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027195450/http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_36-1989/Notornis_36_1.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2007 |access-date=19 August 2006 |df=dmy-all}}
- MNZTPT NMNZ S.027950, feathers found in 1949 at Takahe Valley, Fiordland, New Zealand.{{Cite web |author=Museum of New Zealand(b) |title=Megalapteryx didinus |url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=90846 |access-date=18 July 2010 |work=Collections Online |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa}}
- Canterbury Museum NZ 1725, Remains of one partial egg which have been found at the Rakaia River in 1971 are tentatively attributed to this species. The radiocarbon date of approximately AD 1300–1400 is in line with this. Unusually, the eggshell is dark olive green, but even if the egg is of M. didinus, the shell colour may have varied between individual eggs.{{cite journal |last=McCulloch |first=Beverley |year=1992 |title=Unique, dark olive-green moa eggshell from Redcliffe Hill, Rakaia Gorge, Canterbury |url=http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_39-1992/Notornis_39_1_63.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Notornis |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=63–65 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081018103005/http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_39-1992/Notornis_39_1_63.pdf |archive-date=18 October 2008 |access-date=20 August 2006 |df=dmy-all}}
- MNZTPT NMNZ S.023700, complete skeleton found by Trevor Worthy in March 1987 at Honeycomb Hill Cave, Oparara Valley{{Cite web |author=Museum of New Zealand(c) |title=Megalapteryx didinus |url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/ObjectDetails.aspx?oid=92365 |access-date=18 July 2010 |work=Collections Online |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa}}
- Otago Museum AV10049, skeleton and partial egg found in 2002 at Serpentine Range, Humboldt Mountains.{{Cite web |title=THE HUNT IS ON: Upland Moa Recovery Project |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0302/S00042.htm}}
Behavior and ecology
The upland moa was herbivorous, its diet extrapolated from fossilised stomach contents, droppings, and the structure of its beak and crop. It ate leaves and small twigs, using its beak to "shear [...] with scissor-like moves". However, biomechanical testing of its beak and head has shown it was best suited to feed by pulling backwards, possibly while twisting its head to the side.{{cite journal |last1=Attard |first1=Marie R. G. |last2=Wilson |first2=Laura A. B. |last3=Worthy |first3=Trevor H. |last4=Scofield |first4=Paul |last5=Johnston |first5=Peter |last6=Parr |first6=William C. H. |last7=Wroe |first7=Stephen |title=Moa diet fits the bill: virtual reconstruction incorporating mummified remains and prediction of biomechanical performance in avian giants |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |date=2016 |volume=283 |issue=1822 |pages=20152043 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2015.2043 |pmid=26763698 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290395211 |access-date=21 July 2023|pmc=4721086 }} Its food required grinding before it could be digested, as indicated by its large crop. Studies of the upland moa's coprolites have provided evidence that branchlets of trees such as Nothofagus, various lake-edge herbs, tussock, and nectar-rich flowers made up part of its diet.{{cite journal |last1=Horrocks |first1=Mark |last2=D'Costa |first2=Donna |last3=Wallace |first3=Rod |last4=Gardner |first4=Rhys |last5=Kondo |first5=Renzo |title=Plant remains in coprolites: diet of a subalpine moa (Dinornithiformes) from southern New Zealand |journal=Emu – Austral Ornithology |date=2004 |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=149–156 |doi=10.1071/MU03019|bibcode=2004EmuAO.104..149H |s2cid=86345660 }}{{cite journal |last1=Wood |first1=Jamie R. |last2=Wilmshurst |first2=Janet M. |last3=Wagstaff |first3=Steven J. |last4=Worthy |first4=Trevor H. |last5=Rawlence |first5=Nicolas J. |last6=Cooper |first6=Alan |title=High-Resolution Coproecology: Using Coprolites to Reconstruct the Habits and Habitats of New Zealand's Extinct Upland Moa (Megalapteryx didinus) |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2012 |volume=7 |issue=6 |pages=e40025 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0040025 |pmid=22768206 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228331799 |access-date=21 July 2023|pmc=3386916 |bibcode=2012PLoSO...740025W |doi-access=free }} Based on the pollen present in the coprolites, it is suggested they had a similar lifestyle to the living takahē, feeding in high alpine areas during the summer and descending to lower altitude forests in the winter. They may also have played an important role in the seed dispersal of alpine plants.File:Megalapteryx.pngThis moa usually laid only 1 to 2 blue-green coloured eggs at once,{{cite journal |last1=Igic |first1=Branislav |last2=Greenwood |first2=David R. |last3=Palmer |first3=David J. |last4=Cassey |first4=Phillip |last5=Gill |first5=Brian J. |last6=Grim |first6=Tomas |last7=Brennan |first7=Patricia L. R. |last8=Bassett |first8=Suzanne M. |last9=Battley |first9=Phil F. |last10=Hauber |first10=Mark E. |title=Detecting pigments from colourful eggshells of extinct birds |journal=Chemoecology |date=2010 |volume=20 |issue=1 |pages=43–48 |doi=10.1007/s00049-009-0038-2 |bibcode=2010Checo..20...43I |s2cid=10956718 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226960070}} and was likely the only type of moa to lay eggs that were not white in colour.{{Cite Q|Q58623352}} Like the emu and ostrich, male moa cared for the young. The upland moa's only predator before the arrival of humans in New Zealand was the Haast's eagle (Hieraaetus moorei).
= Distribution and habitat =
The upland moa lived only on New Zealand's South Island, in mountains and sub-alpine regions.{{Cite book |last=Tennyson |first=Alan J. D. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/80016906 |title=Extinct birds of New Zealand |date=2006 |publisher=Te Papa Press |others=Paul Martinson |isbn=978-0-909010-21-8 |location=Wellington, N.Z. |oclc=80016906}} They travelled to elevations as high as 2000 m (7000 ft) above sea level.
= Extinction =
Humans first came in contact with the upland moa around 1250 to 1300 AD, when the Māori people arrived in New Zealand from Polynesia. Moa, being docile animals, were an easy source of food for the Māori (who called them "moa pukepuke"), and the birds were eventually hunted to extinction in 1445.Worthy, Trevor H.'Moa – Moa and people', Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 13-Jul-12
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/moa/page-4
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Paleontology}}
- {{Commons category-inline|Megalapteryx didinus|Megalapteryx didinus}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline|Megalapteryx didinus|Megalapteryx didinus}}
- [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=710913&coltype=art®no=2006-0010-1/16 Upland Moa. Megalapteryx didinus.] by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
- [https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/92365 Articulated skeleton] at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
- [https://otagomuseum.nz/blog/in-the-spotlight-haast-eagle-and-upland-moa/ Articulated Upland moa skeleton] at the Otago Museum
{{Palaeognathae|N.}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q998863}}
Category:Birds of the South Island
Category:Extinct flightless birds
Category:Extinct birds of New Zealand
Category:Bird extinctions since 1500