Were bowerbirds part of the New Zealand fauna?
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 8632986.
- Also identified by PMC identifier 39456.
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Abstract
Bowerbirds (Ptilonorhynchidae) have previously been considered to be confined to the Australo-Papuan continental plate. We provide molecular evidence that the extinct New Zealand Piopio Turnagra capensis is, in fact, a bowerbird. Such a finding is surprising on biogeographical grounds. However, recent molecular evidence on the relationships of the New Zealand moas and kiwis with the Australo-Papuan flightless birds suggests the need for a reassessment of current views on the origins of New Zealand's fauna.
Medical subject headings
- Biological Evolution
- Birds