New Zealand musk duck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Zealand musk duck |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Biziura
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| Species: |
delautouri
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The New Zealand musk duck (Biziura delautouri) was a special type of stiff-tailed duck that used to live only in New Zealand. It's also known as de Lautour's duck. Sadly, this duck is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists anywhere in the world. We only know about it from old fossil bones found in the ground. Its closest living relative is the Australian musk duck, which looks quite similar.
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Discovering the New Zealand Musk Duck
How did we find out about this amazing duck? The very first fossil bones of the New Zealand musk duck were found in a place called Enfield, near Oamaru in the South Island of New Zealand. These bones were discovered alongside many bones of the giant moa birds.
Who Discovered and Named It?
In March 1892, a scientist named Dr Henry Forbes officially described this new duck species. He was the director of the Canterbury Museum in Christchurch at the time. Dr Forbes named the duck Biziura delautouri to honor Dr H. de Lautour from Oamaru, who helped get the fossil specimen for the museum.
Where Else Were Fossils Found?
More bones of the New Zealand musk duck were found later in other places. In 1969, a scientist named Ron Scarlett described new fossils from Marfells Beach, which is next to Lake Grassmere at the top of the South Island. Even more musk duck fossils have been found at Lake Poukawa and Waikuku Beach on the North Island. Each new discovery helps us learn more about this extinct bird.
What Did the New Zealand Musk Duck Look Like?
The New Zealand musk duck was very similar to its cousin, the Australian musk duck. However, there were some important differences.
Size and Body Shape
Scientists like Trevor Worthy have studied the bones of the New Zealand musk duck. They found that it was noticeably larger than the Australian musk duck. Also, male and female musk ducks were different sizes, with males being much bigger. This is called sexual dimorphism.
The bones also showed that the New Zealand musk duck had bigger legs and shorter wings compared to its Australian relative. This suggests that it might have been spending more time on the water and less time flying long distances. Even with shorter wings, it was still able to fly. These differences in size and body parts confirm that the New Zealand musk duck was its own unique species.
Where Did the New Zealand Musk Duck Live?
The places where the duck's fossils have been found give us clues about its home. The main fossil sites, Lake Poukawa and Marfells Beach (near Lake Grassmere), are both large wetland areas.
Its Habitat and Food
This suggests that the New Zealand musk duck lived in similar places to the Australian musk duck. Australian musk ducks prefer big, permanent swamps, lakes, and estuaries with deep water. They dive into the deep water to find their food.
Scientists believe that the New Zealand musk duck probably ate things like crayfish, large insects, molluscs (like snails), and fish. These were likely bigger prey than what other ducks in New Zealand would eat.
Why Did the New Zealand Musk Duck Disappear?
Sadly, the New Zealand musk duck became extinct around the 16th century. The main reason for its disappearance was hunting by humans.
