Waitaha penguin

Waitaha Penguin
Scientific classification
Kingdom Information
Domain	Eukaryota
Kingdom	Animalia
Subkingdom	Bilateria
Phylum Information
Superphylum	Deuterostomia
Phylum	Chordata
Sub-phylum	Vertebrata
Infraphylum	Gnathostomata
Class Information
Superclass	Tetrapoda
Class	Aves
Sub-class	Neornithes
Infra-class	Neognathae
Order Information
Order	Spheniciformes
Family Information
Family	Spheniscidae
Genus Information
Genus	Megadyptes
Species Information
Species	M. waitaha
Population statistics
Conservation status	Extinct

The Waitaha penguin (Megadyptes waitaha) is an extinct species of penguin of the family Spheniscidae, and formerly endemic to the South Island of New Zealand.

Description

Little is known of this bird's appearance, as it only recently came to light in 2008, and only via the recovery of sub-fossilized bones. Studies indicated that it was similar to the yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes), only some 10% smaller. While some authorities claim the Waitaha penguin to be a subspecies of the yellow-eyed penguin, research has indicated that the bone fragments found at Lake Grassmere, Marlborough Region is genetically distinct from yellow-eyed penguin bones found in the same area, as well as being approximately 300 years older.

Extinction

The Waitaha penguin was never common when humans arrived in New Zealand ca. 1280-1300 A.D., a date which is largely confirmed by radiocarbon analyses of leftover material consumed by the pacific rat (Rattus exulans), a south-east Asian rodent known to the native Maori as kiore; its diet, in addition to seed and other plant material, also includes predation on small animals including birds and bird eggs, and it is considered responsible for several extinctions on New Zealand. The arrival of the Maori, who hunted the birds as well, pushed an already rare bird to extinction by 1500; its former range was filled in by the yellow-eyed penguin, a rare bird that is itself threatened with extinction.