Pikaihao facts for kids

Pikaihao bartlei, also known as Bartle's bittern or the Saint Bathans bittern, was a type of small, ancient bird. It lived in New Zealand a very long time ago, during a period called the Early Miocene. This was about 16 to 19 million years ago!

Scientists first learned about Pikaihao bartlei in 2013. They found its fossil bones, including parts of its leg and shoulder, in the Manuherikia River valley in Otago, on New Zealand's South Island. These bones were found in a special area known for its ancient animal fossils, called the Saint Bathans Fauna.

Pikaihao bartlei lived at the same time as another much larger ancient bird, the Saint Bathans heron. Fossils of both birds have been found in the same ancient mud and sand.

What's in a Name?

The name Pikaihao comes from the Māori words pi and kaihao. The word pi is often used for small birds or baby birds, like chicks. Kaihao means "fisherman." So, the name Pikaihao hints that this small bird might have been a good fisher!

The second part of its name, bartlei, was chosen to honor Sandy Bartle. He was a bird expert who worked at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa for many years, from 1976 to 2009.

Where Did It Live?

Pikaihao bartlei lived in what is now New Zealand. During the Early Miocene period, the environment in this area was quite different from today. It was likely warmer and had a lot of wetlands and forests. This would have been a perfect home for a small bird that probably hunted for food in the water, just like modern bitterns.

How Do We Know About It?

Scientists discovered Pikaihao bartlei by studying its fossil bones. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient life. By carefully examining these bones, scientists can figure out what the animal looked like, how big it was, and even how it might have lived. The bones found for Pikaihao bartlei were a left tarsometatarsus (a leg bone) and a part of a left coracoid (a shoulder bone). These bones helped them understand that it was a type of bittern.