Soft-tissue specimens from pre-European extinct birds of New Zealand

Rawlence, Nicolas J.; Wood, Jamie R.; Scofield, R. Paul; Fraser, Cody; Tennyson, Alan J. D.

doi:10.1080/03036758.2012.704878

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…They went extinct so recently that there is a rich subfossil record, including bones, skins, eggshell and coprolites (mummified faeces)-e.g. [21][22][23][24], allowing an unusually comprehensive analysis of the ecosystem services these birds provided [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An avian seed dispersal paradox: New Zealand's extinct megafaunal birds did not disperse large seeds

et al. 2018

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Often the mutualistic roles of extinct species are inferred based on plausible assumptions, but sometimes palaeoecological evidence can overturn such inferences. We present an example from New Zealand, where it has been widely assumed that some of the largest-seeded plants were dispersed by the giant extinct herbivorous moa (Dinornithiformes). The presence of large seeds in preserved moa gizzard contents supported this hypothesis, and five slow-germinating plant species () with thick seedcoats prompted speculation about whether these plants were adapted for moa dispersal. However, we demonstrate that all these assumptions are incorrect. While large seeds were present in 48% of moa gizzards analysed, analysis of 152 moa coprolites (subfossil faeces) revealed a very fine-grained consistency unparalleled in extant herbivores, with no intact seeds larger than 3.3 mm diameter. Secondly, prolonged experimental mechanical scarification of and seeds did not reduce time to germination, providing no experimental support for the hypothesis that present-day slow germination results from the loss of scarification in moa guts. Paradoxically, although moa were New Zealand's largest native herbivores, the only seeds to survive moa gut passage intact were those of small-seeded herbs and shrubs.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An avian seed dispersal paradox: New Zealand's extinct megafaunal birds did not disperse large seeds

et al. 2018

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“…As regards the insertion of the iliofemoralis internus, Worthy & Holdaway (2002), Worthy & Scofield (2012) and Zinoviev (2013) considered the possibility that the pronounced scar on the femur was for the insertion of the iliofemoral ligament, rather than a muscle. This is not supported by osteological evidence (as noted above), and moreover, a mummified femur of E. crassus, described by Hutton & Coughtrey (1875b) and figured by Rawlence et al (2012b), shows that muscle fibres and not a ligament inserted here. The most parsimonious interpretation therefore is that the scar indicates the insertion of the iliofemoralis internus in all moa (also a level I inference).…”

Section: General Commentsmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Identifying the areas of uncertainty in a reconstruction is also important in that it can point out aspects for future research. One such line of enquiry is the examination of mummified moa remains (see Rawlence et al 2012b).…”

Section: Comparison To the Work Of Zinoviev (2013)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A critical re-evaluation of the hindlimb myology of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Bishop¹

2016

MQMN

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The extinct moa of New Zealand were an enigmatic group of flightless birds, some attaining gigantic size. To better understand the biomechanical consequences of their large size and unique anatomy on stance and locomotion, a critical re-evaluation of the evidence for muscular attachment in the hindlimb of moa was undertaken. Three focal taxa, Dinornis robustus, Emeus crassus and Pachyornis elephantopus, were studied in detail, although other moa species were also addressed. More than one thousand individual bones from a diverse array of localities across the South Island of New Zealand were examined, and interpretations were made within the context of extant palaeognath birds. The interpretations and reconstructions produced largely concur with those of previous workers in many respects. The reconstructed myology of these moa species is also quite comparable to that in extant palaeognaths, although some important differences are hypothesised to exist. The most significant of these is that it moa are posited to have had a very well-developed iliotrochantericus caudalis in comparison to extant palaeognaths. Digital computer reconstruction of this muscle in an adult female D. robustus supports this hypothesis. The great development of the iliotrochantericus caudalis in moa may be related to their large size, or reflect a different locomotor behaviour compared to extant palaeognath species. Finally, a number of myology-related features have been identified that may prove useful in the taxonomic identification of isolated or poorly preserved bones.

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Late Quaternary terrestrial vertebrate coprolites from New Zealand

Wood

Wilmshurst

2014

Quaternary Science Reviews

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Soft-tissue specimens from pre-European extinct birds of New Zealand

Cited by 7 publications

References 41 publications

An avian seed dispersal paradox: New Zealand's extinct megafaunal birds did not disperse large seeds

An avian seed dispersal paradox: New Zealand's extinct megafaunal birds did not disperse large seeds

A critical re-evaluation of the hindlimb myology of moa (Aves: Dinornithiformes)

Late Quaternary terrestrial vertebrate coprolites from New Zealand

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