Manuherikia (bird) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manuherikia |
|
|---|---|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Anseriformes |
| Superfamily: | Anatoidea |
| Family: | Anatidae |
| Subfamily: | †Dendrocheninae Livezey & Martin 1988 |
| Genus: | †Manuherikia Worthy et al., 2007 |
| Species | |
|
|
Manuherikia was a type of duck that lived a very long time ago. These ducks are now extinct, meaning they no longer exist. They lived during a time called the Miocene epoch, which was about 19 to 16 million years ago. Their fossils were found in New Zealand, near the Manuherikia River.
Meet the Ancient Ducks: Manuherikia
Scientists found the fossils of Manuherikia ducks in a special place. This place is called the Saint Bathans Fauna site. It is located in the lower Bannockburn Formation. This area is part of the Manuherikia Group of rocks. The fossils were discovered near the Manuherikia River in the Central Otago region. This region is on the South Island of New Zealand. The name Manuherikia comes from the name of the rock formation where the fossils were found. It is also named after the Manuherikia River and its valley.
Different Kinds of Manuherikia Ducks
Scientists have found and named three different kinds of Manuherikia ducks. Each one has its own unique features.
- Manuherikia lacustrina
* This duck was about the same size as an Australasian shoveler. You might see this type of duck today. * Scientists found a complete left humerus (that's an arm bone!) of this duck. It was found at a Saint Bathans Fauna site. * This species is the most common bird found in the Manuherikia Group rocks. * Its bones show that it was a special diver. This means it was very good at diving underwater. * Its name, lacustrina, tells us something about where it lived. It refers to the lake-like sediments where its bones were found.
- Manuherikia minuta
* This was a very small duck. It was even smaller than a pink-eared duck. * Scientists found a complete left humerus of this duck. It was also found at a Saint Bathans Fauna site. * Its name, minuta, means "tiny." This name was chosen because of its extremely small size.
- Manuherikia douglasi
* This was the largest of the three Manuherikia species. * Scientists found a complete right humerus and four ulnae (other arm bones) of this duck. These were found near the Manuherikia River. * Its name honors a geologist named Barry Douglas. He was the first person to find bird fossils in the Manuherikia Group rocks.
