Austral snipe

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Austral snipes
Campbell snipe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Scolopacidae
Genus: Coenocorypha
G.R. Gray, 1855
Type species
Gallinago aucklandica[1]
G.R. Gray, 1845
Species

see text

The austral snipes, also known as the New Zealand snipes or tutukiwi,

Campbell Island snipe discovered as recently as 1997. The genus was once distributed from Fiji, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, across New Zealand and southwards into New Zealand's subantarctic islands, but predation by introduced species, especially rats
, has drastically reduced their range.

Taxonomy and range

The relationship between Coenocorypha snipe and the

Snares, Little Barrier Island, Stewart Island, the Antipodes Islands
and Campbell Island.

A morphological study and comparisons of

Antipodes Island snipe might be a separate species.[4]

In 1997, a previously unknown form of snipe was discovered on Jacquemart Island off Campbell Island.[5] The Campbell snipe was described as another subspecies in the radiation of New Zealand snipes.[6] Fossil remains of Coenocorypha have also now been discovered on the islands of New Caledonia, Fiji and Norfolk Island.[7][8] Fossil evidence has also shown that the Little Barrier Island form was once widespread across North Island and the Stewart Island form across South Island; both are now extinct.

Species and subspecies

Codfish Island / Whenua Hou
.

Description

The austral snipes have long bills and short necks, wings, and tails. Overall they resemble Gallinago snipes, although smaller, stockier, and with relatively shorter bills.[9] They measure from 19–24 cm long, with wingspans of 28–35 cm, and weigh 75–120 g. The smallest species is the Chatham Island snipe. Their plumage is overall brown; most species have a dark eye stripe. The scapulars on the wings are mottled, with some species having white tips.

Behaviour

Diet

The austral snipes are carnivorous, feeding on

pupae
of other insects.

Breeding

The breeding biology of some of the austral snipes has been studied in some detail. They are mostly

calls followed by a non-vocal roar created by diving birds driving fast moving air across the rectrices of the tail. This display is thought to be the origin of the Māori legends about the Hakawai, a term which has been extended to refer to the aerial displays.[12]

Both sexes choose the nesting site, although only the female builds the nest. The usual clutch size is two eggs, laid three days apart. Incubation duties are shared between the sexes, incubation taking 22 days. Where a male has two females in its territory it will incubate at just one nest, the female at the other has to incubate alone, taking 38 days to hatch chicks.

After hatching the pair splits, with each member of the pair taking one chick and raising it. Chicks are fed for around 41 days, and stay with the parent for another 20 days after that. The chick of the

extinct South Island snipe is also thought to have been different, with studies conducted in 1923 and 1930 showing that both parents cared for a single chick.[13] Nothing is known about the parental care of the North Island snipe, the Forbes's snipe or the snipes of Fiji, New Caledonia or Norfolk Island
.

Threats and conservation

The extinct North Island snipe

The austral snipes

bush wren and the New Zealand greater short-tailed bat. Attempts were made to capture some snipe (and wrens) for translocation to a safe island, but only two snipe were caught and both died two days later.[3]

Today the remaining species are a conservation priority. Techniques to translocate snipe without killing them have been developed, and a small group of

Snares Island snipe have been established off Stewart Island.[14] Campbell Island snipe have benefited from the removal of rats from Campbell Island in 2001; they have recolonised the main island from Jacquemart Island and begun breeding there again.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Alcidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-26.
  2. ^ "Story: Wading birds – New Zealand snipe". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-0-909010-21-8
    .
  4. ^ Worthy, T. H., Miskelly, C. M. & Ching, B. A. (2002). Taxonomy of North and South Island snipe (Aves : Scolopacidae : Coenocorypha), with analysis of a remarkable collection of snipe bones from Greymouth, New Zealand New Zealand Journal of Zoology 29 (3): 231–244
  5. ^ Barker, D.; Carroll, J.; Edmonds, H.; Fraser, J. & Miskelly, C. (2005). "Discovery of a previously unknown Coenocorypha snipe in the Campbell Island group, New Zealand subantarctic". Notornis. 52 (3): 143–149. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  6. ^ Miskelly, C.; Backer, A. J. (2010). "Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand" (PDF). Notornis. 56 (3): 113–123.
  7. ISBN 0-253-34034-9
    .
  8. ^ Worthy T. H. (2003). A new extinct species of snipe Coenocorypha from Viti Levu, Fiji. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 123: 90–103.
  9. ^
    ISBN 0-19-553070-5
    .
  10. ^ Piersma, T., van Aelst, R., Kurk, K., Berkhoudt, H., & Maas, L. R. M. (1998). A new pressure sensory mechanism for prey detection in birds: the use of principles of seabed dynamics? Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 265 (1404): 1377–1383.
  11. ^ Miskelly, C (1989) Breeding systems of the New Zealand Snipe Coenocorypha aucklandica and the Chatham Island Snipe Coenocorypha pusilla; are they food limited? Ibis 132: 366–379.
  12. ^ Miskelly, C (1987). "The identity of the Hakawai" (PDF). Notornis. 34 (2): 95–116. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-01-18. Retrieved 2017-07-19.
  13. ^ Miskelly, C., & de Lange, P. (2006). Notes on the breeding ecology of the extinct Stewart Island snipe (Coenocorypha aucklandica iredalei). Notornis 53 (4): 339–352.
  14. ISBN 0-478-22687-X PDF
  15. ^ Miskelly, C., & Fraser, J. (2006). Campbell snipe (C. a. perseverance) recolonise subantarctic Campbell Island following Rat eradication. Notornis 53 (4): 353–359.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Coenocorypha.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Austral_snipe&oldid=1195431581"