Little spotted kiwi

Little spotted kiwi
Specimen in Auckland War Memorial Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apterygiformes
Family: Apterygidae
Genus: Apteryx
Species: A. owenii
Binomial name
Apteryx owenii
(Gould, 1847)[2]
Sub-species

A. o. owenii
†A. o. iredelai North Island little spotted kiwi

The distribution of little spotted kiwi

The little spotted kiwi or little gray kiwi,[2] Apteryx owenii, is a small species of kiwi originally from New Zealand's South Island (they used to live near Marlborough and where tokoeka currently live). Around 1890 to 1910 a population of them was trans-located to Kapiti Island for conservation purposes. Little spotted kiwis are the smallest species of kiwi, at about 0.9 to 1.9 kg (2.0–4.2 lb), about the size of a bantam.

Taxonomy

Illustration by G.D. Rowley

The little spotted kiwi is a ratite and belongs to the Apterygiormes Order, and the Apterygidae Family. Their binomial name Apteryx owenii breaks down to without wings and owenii which is named after Sir Richard Owen.[3] Today, only the nominate subspecies A. o. owenii exists. The little-known North Island little spotted kiwi, A. o. iredalei, from the North Island became extinct in the late 19th century.[4]

The little spotted kiwi was first described in 1847 by John Gould from a specimen obtained by F. Strang. The locality is not recorded but it probably came from Nelson or Marlborough. In 1873, Henry Potts published an account of its habits and about this time specimens were collected in South Westland and sent to England.[2]

Description

The little spotted kiwi has a length of 35 to 45 cm (14–18 in) and the weight of the male is 0.9 to 1.3 kg (2.0–2.9 lb) and the female weighs 1 to 1.9 kg (2.2–4.2 lb), making it the smallest species of kiwi. Their feathers are pale-mottled gray, with fine white mottling, and are shaggy looking.[5] They lack aftershafts and barbules. They have large vibrissae feathers around the gape. They lack a tail, but have a small pygostyle.[2] Their bill is ivory and long and their legs are pale.[5]

Range and habitat

After they were released on Kapiti Island, they were also moved to Red Mercury Island, Hen Island, Tiritiri Matangi Island, and Long Island in the Queen Charlotte Sound. In 2000, about 20 little spotted kiwis were released into Karori Wildlife Sanctuary. This was the first time since about 1900 that little spotted kiwis could be found on the mainland of New Zealand. Studies on Kapiti Island show that they prefer flax, seral, and older forest habitats. Lower numbers are found in rough grassland and scrub, indicating that either they prefer other habitats or they simply need a larger territory to support themselves in these areas.[5]

Behaviour

Little spotted kiwis eat grubs and other small insects that are found underground, and occasionally eat berries. Hence the sharp talons and long beak, it digs into the ground with its talons then shoves its long beak down the soft ground. Since they can't fly to get to insects or food on trees and their eyesight is very poor they depend on a keen sense of smell, long beak and talons.[2]

Reproduction

Burrow
Breeding population and trends[5]
Location Population Date Trend
Hen Island 50 2000 Increasing
Kapiti Island 1,000 2000 Stable
Red Mercury Island 30 2000 Increasing
Long Island 10 2000 Increasing
Tiritiri Matangi 15 2000 Increasing
Karori Wildlife Sanctuary 70 2008 Increasing[6]
Motuihe Island 9 [7]
Total (New Zealand) 1,200 2000 Stable

They nest in an excavated burrow, dug by both birds and sometimes line the nest with plant material. The clutch size is one to two eggs (15% have 2), and are incubated by the male for a period of 63–76 days. After hatching they stay in the nest for 2–3 weeks and require feeding for 4 weeks.[2] The largest egg in comparison with the size of the bird is laid by the little spotted kiwi. Its egg accounts for 26 percent of its own weight—the equivalent of a human woman giving birth to a six-year-old child.

Conservation

Illustration by John Gerrard Keulemans

At the time it was described, the species was common on the western side of the South Island and in Marlborough. Then a regular trade in skins sprang up and large numbers were collected for European museums. Further, with the advance of European settlement, birds were killed by prospectors and others for food and their attendant dogs and cats took their toll.

As the smallest species of kiwi, the little spotted kiwi would be very vulnerable to the main kiwi predators like cats, dogs, and stoats, however the little spotted kiwi is now restricted to several off-shore island reserves (mainly Kapiti Island). The little spotted kiwi's conservation status is listed as "range restricted" (by 'Save the Kiwi'), with a growing population. Formerly classified as "vulnerable" by the IUCN,[8] it was suspected to be more numerous than generally assumed. Following the evaluation of its population size, this was found to be correct, and it is consequently downlisted to "near threatened" status in 2008 as, although not rare, its small range puts it at risk. The lack of predators, apart from weka (Gallirallus australis), is important to its increasing numbers.[1] It has an occurrence range of 31 km2 (12 sq mi), and a population of 1500 was estimated in the year 2008.

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 BirdLife International (2012). "Apteryx owenii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003)
  3. ↑ Gotch, A. F. (1995)
  4. ↑ Hume, J. P.; Walters, M. (2012). Extinct Birds. London: A & C Black. pp. 23–24. ISBN 1-4081-5725-X.
  5. 1 2 3 4 BirdLife International (2008a)
  6. ↑ Save the Kiwi.org
  7. ↑ "Kiwi released onto Motuihe Island". 3 News. 21 March 2009. Retrieved 15 October 2011.
  8. ↑ BirdLife International (2008b)

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Apteryx owenii.


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