New Zealand quail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Zealand quail |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Coturnix
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| Species: |
novaezelandiae
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| Synonyms | |
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Coturnix novaezelandiae |
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The New Zealand quail (Coturnix novaezelandiae), or koreke in Māori, was an extinct quail species endemic to New Zealand. The male and female were similar, except the female was lighter. The first scientist to describe it was Sir Joseph Banks when he visited New Zealand on James Cook's first voyage. Terrestrial and temperate, this species inhabited lowland tussock grassland and open fernlands. The first specimen to be obtained by a European was collected in 1827 by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard on Dumont D'Urville's voyage.
History
Research was conducted between 2007 and 2009 into whether the quails on Tiritiri Matangi Island – which was spared the worst impact of introduced predators – might be a surviving population of this species, or koreke-brown quail (Coturnix ypsilophora) hybrids. However, a genetic study showed instead that the quail on Tiritiri Matangi are Australian brown quail, Coturnix ypsilophora. Sequences were derived for all quail species within the Australian and New Zealand Coturnix sp. complex.
Taxonomy
It has sometimes been considered conspecific with the Australian stubble quail Coturnix pectoralis, which would then be named Coturnix novaezelandiae pectoralis as the New Zealand bird was described first. However, the genetic analysis showed that they are separate though closely related species.
Gallery
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Illustration
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Illustration of the Chatham rail and the New Zealand quail from 1907
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See also
In Spanish: Coturnix novaezelandiae para niños
