Manu (bird) facts for kids
Manu antiquus was a type of extinct bird that lived a very long time ago. It's a bit of a mystery bird because scientists aren't sure exactly what kind of bird it was related to!
Quick facts for kids Manu antiquus |
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| Scientific classification | |
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incertae familiae
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Manu
Marples, 1946
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| Species: |
M. antiquus
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| Manu antiquus Marples, 1946
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Contents
Meet Manu antiquus: An Ancient Bird
Manu antiquus was a bird that lived during the Oligocene period. This was a time millions of years ago. Scientists know about it from a fossil found in New Zealand. This fossil was a small part of its furcula, which is also known as a wishbone.
What Was Manu antiquus?
Scientists aren't completely sure what kind of bird Manu antiquus was. It is an "enigmatic taxon," which means its exact place in the bird family tree is unknown. Some thought it might be an early albatross. Others wondered if it was a pelagornithid. These were very large, ancient seabirds.
Where and When Did It Live?
The only fossil of Manu antiquus was found in New Zealand. It was discovered near a place called Duntroon. This area is in the north Otago region of the South Island. The bird lived during the Oligocene epoch. This period of Earth's history lasted from about 33.9 to 23 million years ago.
The Mystery of Its Family Tree
The fossil of Manu antiquus was first described in 1946. A scientist named Brian Marples studied it. He was the one who gave it its scientific name. Even after all this time, its true family connections remain a puzzle. This makes Manu antiquus a very interesting bird for scientists to study.
What Does Its Name Mean?
The name Manu antiquus has a special meaning. The first part, Manu, comes from the Māori language. In Māori, "manu" means "bird." The second part, antiquus, is a Latin word. It means "old" or "ancient." So, the name Manu antiquus basically means "ancient bird."
