Haast's eagle

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Haast's eagle
Temporal range: Pleistocene to Late Holocene
Skull at the Canterbury Museum, Christchurch

Extinct (~1400) (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Accipitridae
Genus: Hieraaetus
Species:
†H. moorei
Binomial name
†Hieraaetus moorei
(Haast, 1872)
Synonyms
  • Aquila moorei Haast, 1872
  • Harpagornis moorei Haast, 1872

Haast's eagle (Hieraaetus moorei) is an

prey—the flightless moa—the largest of which could weigh 230 kg (510 lb).[4] Haast's eagle became extinct around 1445, following the arrival of the Māori, who hunted moa to extinction, introduced the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), and destroyed large tracts of forest by fire.[5]

Taxonomy

Haast's eagle was first scientifically described by Julius von Haast in 1871 from remains discovered by the Canterbury Museum taxidermist, Frederick Richardson Fuller,[6][7] in a former marsh.[8] Haast named the eagle Harpagornis moorei after George Henry Moore, the owner of the Glenmark Estate, where the bones of the bird were found.[9] The genus name was from the Greek harpax, meaning "grappling hook", and ornis, meaning "bird".[10]

DNA analysis later showed that this bird is related most closely to the much smaller little eagle (Hieraaetus morphnoides) as well as the booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus) and not, as previously thought, to the large wedge-tailed eagle (Aquila audax).[11][12] Harpagornis moorei was therefore reclassified as Hieraaetus moorei.[10]

H. moorei is estimated to have diverged from these smaller eagles as recently as 1.8 million to 700,000 years ago.[13] If this estimate is correct, its increase in weight by ten to fifteen times is an exceptionally rapid weight increase.[14] The suggested increase in the average weight of Haast's eagle over that period would therefore represent the largest, fastest evolutionary increase in average weight of any known vertebrate species.[15] This was made possible in part by the presence of large prey and the absence of competition from other large predators, an example of ecological release and island gigantism.[16] A recent mitochondrial DNA study found it to be more closely related to the little eagle than the booted eagle, with an estimated divergence from the little eagle around 2.2 million years ago.[17][3] It was placed in the genus Aquila by recent taxonomists.[18]

Description

Haast's eagle attacking moa by John Megahan

Haast's eagle was one of the largest known true raptors.[19] In length and weight, it was even larger than the largest living vultures.[20] Another giant eagle more recently and scantily described from the fossil record, the Woodward's eagle, which resided in North America,[21] rivaled the Haast's in at least the aspect of total length.[22] Female eagles were larger than males.[23] Most estimates place the female Haast's eagles in the range of 10–15 kg (22–33 lb) and males around 9–12 kg (20–26 lb).[24][25]

A comparison with living eagles of the Australasian region resulted in estimated masses in Haast's eagles of 11.5 kg (25 lb) for males and 14 kg (31 lb) for females.[24] One source estimates that the largest females could have weighed more than 16.5 kg (36 lb).[26] The largest extant eagles, none of which are verified to exceed 9 kg (20 lb) in a wild state, are about forty percent smaller in body size than Haast's eagles.[27]

Foot bones of Haast's eagle (top) and those of its closest living relative, the little eagle

It had a relatively short wingspan for its size. It is estimated that the grown female typically spanned up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in), possibly up to 3 m (10 ft) in a few cases.

extant eagles: the wedge-tailed eagle, golden eagle (A. chrysaetos), martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus), white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and Steller's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) are all known to exceed 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in wingspan. Several of the largest extant Old World vultures, if not in mean mass or other linear measurements, probably exceed Haast's eagle in average wingspan as well.[27][30]

Haast's eagle's relatively short wingspan has sometimes led it to being incorrectly portrayed as having evolved toward

scrubland and forests of New Zealand.[32]

Some wing and leg remains of Haast's eagles permit direct comparison with living eagles. The harpy eagle, the Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), and the Steller's sea eagle are the largest and most powerful living eagles, and the first two also have a similarly reduced relative wing-length as an adaptation to forest-dwelling.[27] A lower mandible from the Haast's eagle measured 11.4 cm (4+1⁄2 in) and the tarsus in several Haast's eagle fossils has been measured from 22.7 to 24.9 cm (8+15⁄16 to 9+13⁄16 in).[33] In comparison, the largest beaks of eagles today (from the Philippine and the Steller's sea eagle) reach a little more than 7 cm (3 in); and the longest tarsal measurements (from the Philippine and the Papuan eagle, Harpyopsis novaeguineae) top out around 14 cm (5+1⁄2 in).[30][34][35]

The talons of the Haast's eagle were similar in length to those of the harpy eagle, with a front-left talon length of 4.9 to 6.15 cm (1+15⁄16 to 2+7⁄16 in) and a hallux-claw of possibly up to 11 cm (4+1⁄2 in).[26] The Philippine eagle might be a particularly appropriate living species to compare with the Haast's eagle, because it too evolved in an insular environment from smaller ancestors (apparently basal snake eagles) to island gigantism in the absence of large carnivorous mammals and other competing predators.[36] The eagle's talons are similar to modern eagles, suggesting that it used its talons for hunting and not scavenging.[37]

The strong legs and massive flight muscles of these eagles would have enabled the birds to take off with a jumping start from the ground, despite their great weight.

lift.[24] Total length is estimated to have been up to 1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) in females, with a standing height of approximately 90 cm (2 ft 11 in) tall or perhaps slightly greater.[26]

Māori cave art depicts the Haast's eagle with a pale head. These Māori rock art drawings can still be found in modern-day South Canterbury near Timaru.[38]

Combined with its vulture-like feeding behaviour, this might suggest it had a bald head, or had shorter feathers on its head than elsewhere on its body.[39]

Behaviour

Te Papa of a Haast's eagle attacking a moa
with its large talons

The Haast's eagle predominantly preyed on large, flightless bird species, including the moa, which ultimately lead to the species extinction.

kleptoparasites, a Haast's eagle could easily have monopolised a single large kill over a number of days.[2]

A 2021 analysis showed that, while predatory, the bill of the Haast's eagle was functionally closer to that of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) than to that of other eagles. This is also supported by historic Māori Cave art which depicts the Haast's eagle being pale-headed.[42] It also suggests that it deployed feeding tactics more similar to those of vultures after making a kill, plunging its head into the body cavity to devour the vital organs of its prey. This may have been an adaptation as a result of the bird hunting animals much larger than itself.[43]

Extinction

Until recent human colonisation that introduced rodents and cats, the only

wolves
.

One study estimated the total population of Haast's eagle at 3,000 to 4,500 breeding pairs.[10] Early Māori settlers arrived in New Zealand some time between AD 1250 and AD 1275,[44] Māori preyed heavily on large flightless birds, including all moa species, eventually hunting them to extinction by around 1445.[5][45] Both eagles and Māori probably competed for the same foods.[19] Unlike humans, eagles were dependent on medium and large-sized flightless birds.[46] The loss of its primary prey caused the Haast's eagle to become extinct at about the same time.[19]

Relationship with humans

Some believe that these birds are described in many legends of the Māori mythology, under the names pouākai, Hakawai, or Hōkioi in the North Island.[47][48] According to an account given to Sir George Grey—an early governor of New Zealand—Hōkioi were huge black-and-white birds with yellow-green tinged wings and a red crest. In Māori mythology, Pouākai would prey and kill humans along with moa,[49][50][51] which scientists believe could have been possible if the name relates to the eagle, given the massive size and strength of the bird.[47][52] However, it has also been argued that the "hakawai" and "hōkioi" legends refer to the Austral snipe—in particular the extinct South Island species.[53]

In popular culture

An eagle statue on Macraes Flat

Artwork depicting Haast's eagle now may be viewed at OceanaGold's Heritage and Art Park at Macraes, Otago, New Zealand.[54] The sculpture, weighing approximately 750 kg (1,650 lb), standing 7.5 metres (25 ft) tall, and depicted with a wingspan of 11.5 metres (38 ft) is constructed from stainless steel tube and sheet and was designed and constructed by Mark Hill, a sculptor from Arrowtown, New Zealand.[55]

There is also a statue depicting the Haast's eagle in

Ngāti Waewae iwi.[56]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Aquila moorei". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Giant eagle (Aquila moorei), Haast's eagle, or Pouakai. Museum of New Zealand: Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
  3. ^
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  4. ^ Davies, S.J.J.F. (2003)
  5. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.09.025
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  6. ^ "Pouākai – The world's largest eagle". Radio New Zealand. 30 July 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ Holdaway, Richard (October–December 1989). "Terror Of The Forest". Notornis (4). New Zealand Geographic. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  8. ISBN 978-0-14-196210-8
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  9. Haast, Julius (1872). "Notes on Harpagornis Moorei, an Extinct Gigantic Bird of Prey, containing Discussion of Femur, Ungual Phalanges and Rib"
    . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 4: 193–196.
  10. ^
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  11. ^ Allot, Amber (1 December 2021). "Extinct Haast's eagle might have been more like a Haast's vulture, study finds". Stuff. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
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  17. ^ Upholt, Boyce (12 September 2022). "How a Giant Eagle Once Came to Dominate New Zealand". Smithsonian . Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  18. ^ Rodgers, Paul (14 September 2009). "Maori legend of man-eating bird is true". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  19. ^
    ISBN 978-0-909010-21-8
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  20. ^ Imbler, Sabrina (30 November 2021). "This Extinct Eagle May Have Gulped Guts Like a Vulture". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  21. ^ Suarez, William (2004). "The Identity of the Fossil Raptor of the Genus Amplibuteo (Aves: Accipitridae) from the Quaternary of Cuba". Caribbean Journal of Science. 40 (1): 120–125.
  22. ^ Suarez, W. (2004). "The identity of the fossil raptor of the genus Amplibuteo (Aves: Accipitridae) from the Quaternary of Cuba" (PDF). Caribbean Journal of Science. 40 (1): 120–125. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Tom (28 July 2009). "The man – killer that came from the sky". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d Brathwaite, D. H. (December 1992). "Notes on the weight, flying ability, habitat, and prey of Haast's Eagle (Harpagornis moorei)" (PDF). Notornis. 39 (4). Ornithological Society of New Zealand: 239–247. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  25. ^ Rodgers, Paul (14 September 2009). "Maori legend of man-eating bird is true". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  26. ^
    ISBN 978-0253340344
  27. ^
    ISBN 978-0-85112-235-9
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  28. ^ Maas, P. "Recently Extinct Animals – Species Info – Haast's Eagle". The Sixth Extinction. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  29. ^ "Haast's Eagle". Paleobiology and Biodiversity Research Group. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  30. ^
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  31. ISSN 0113-9762
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  32. ^ "Haast's eagle, New Zealand giant eagle". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  33. ^ Hamilton, A. (1888). "On Avian Remains in Southland". Transactions of the New Zealand Institute.
  34. ^ Ladyguin, Alexander (2000). The morphology of the bill apparatus in the Steller's Sea Eagle. First Symposium on Steller's and White-tailed Sea Eagles in East Asia pp. 1–10; Ueta, M. & McGrady, M.J. (eds.) Wild Bird Society of Japan
  35. ^ Blas R. Tabaranza Jr. (9 March 2008). "Haribon – Ha ring mga Ibon, King of Birds". Haring Ibon's Flight…. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  36. PMID 15925523
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  37. ^ "Haast's Eagle research points to bird being carnivorous predator". Radio New Zealand. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  38. ^ Gerard, Hindmarsh (20 October 2018). "Maori rock art sites our cathedrals". Stuff. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
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  40. ^ Hutching, Gerard. "Birds of prey – New Zealand's birds of prey". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
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  42. ^ Brownlie, Kaysha (12 January 2021). "Research points to New Zealand's Haast's eagle being bald, vulture-like flesh gulper". Newshub. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
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  44. ^ Ashleigh McCaull (8 November 2022). "New study suggests Māori settlers arrived in Aotearoa as early as 13th century". RNZ. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
  45. ^ "Humans wiped out moa, the largest bird that ever lived". SBS World News. 8 November 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  46. ^ Wehi, Priscilla; Whaanga, Hemi; Cox, Murray (9 September 2018). "Oral traditions show that early Māori recognised the extinction of the mo". The Spinoff. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  47. ^ a b Rodgers, Paul (14 September 2009). "Maori legend of man-eating bird is true". The Independent. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  48. ^ Keane-Tuala, Kelly (24 September 2007). "Ngā manu – birds - Birds' names". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  49. ^ Imbler, Sabrina (30 November 2021). "This Extinct Eagle May Have Gulped Guts Like a Vulture". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  50. ^ Sinclair, Keith (1990). "Grey, George". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  51. ^ Rodgers, Paul (14 September 2009). "Maori legend of man-eating bird is true". The Independent. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  52. ^ O'Connor, Tom (28 July 2009). "The man – killer that came from the sky". Taranaki Daily News. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  53. ^ Miskelly, C. M. (1987). "The identity of the hakawai" (PDF). Notornis. 34 (2): 95–116. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022.
  54. ^ "The Haast Eagle has landed". The Otago Daily Times. 19 December 2008. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  55. ^ "Giant art sculptures pop up in Otago". New Zealand: 3 News. 20 December 2008. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2009. Lifestyle – Video on Demand text version Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  56. ^ "Hokioi statue revives ancestral connection". Waetea News. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2024.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Harpagornis moorei.
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