Matuku otagoense facts for kids

Matuku otagoense, also known as the Saint Bathans heron, was a type of heron that lived a very long time ago in New Zealand. This bird is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists on Earth. It lived during a period called the Early Miocene, which was about 19 to 16 million years ago.

Scientists learned about the Saint Bathans heron from its fossil remains. These fossils were found in 2007 in a special area called the Saint Bathans Fauna. This area is part of the Bannockburn Formation in Otago, located on New Zealand's South Island.

The Saint Bathans heron lived at the same time as another, smaller bird called the Saint Bathans bittern. Fossils of both these birds have been discovered in the same ancient rock layers.

Meet the Saint Bathans Heron

The Saint Bathans heron was a unique bird from a very ancient time. It's an example of a genus (a group of closely related species) and a species (a specific type of animal) that no longer roams our planet. Studying its fossils helps us understand what New Zealand was like millions of years ago.

What We Know From Fossils

Scientists found the first fossils of Matuku otagoense in 2007. These discoveries were very exciting because they gave us clues about this ancient bird. By carefully studying the bones, experts could figure out what the heron looked like and how it might have lived. This process of studying fossils to describe new species is called scientific description.

Where It Lived

The fossils of the Saint Bathans heron were found in a place called the Saint Bathans Fauna. This area is famous for its many ancient animal fossils. It's located in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. Back in the Early Miocene, this part of New Zealand would have looked very different from today, likely with more wetlands and forests where herons could thrive.

Its Ancient Neighbors

The Saint Bathans heron wasn't alone in its ancient home. It shared its environment with the Saint Bathans bittern, a smaller bird that also lived in the same area. Finding both their fossils in the same layers of sediment tells us they were alive at the same time and likely shared similar habitats, like ancient lakes or rivers.

The Meaning Behind Its Name

The name Matuku otagoense has a special meaning.

The Genus Name: Matuku

The first part of its scientific name, Matuku, comes from the Māori language. In Māori, "matuku" is a word that means "heron" or "bittern." This is a fitting name for a bird that was a type of heron.

The Species Name: Otagoense

The second part of the name, otagoense, tells us where the bird's fossils were found. It's a Latin way of saying "from Otago." This is a common practice in science, where new species are often named after the place they were discovered.