Rupephaps facts for kids

Rupephaps taketake, also called the Saint Bathans pigeon, was an extinct type of pigeon. It lived in New Zealand a very long time ago. Scientists found its fossil remains. This pigeon is special because it's the first ancient pigeon found from the Australasian area that lived before the Pliocene era.

What Did the Saint Bathans Pigeon Look Like?

Scientists learned about this pigeon from a fossil bone. This bone, called a coracoid, was found in 2008. It was discovered near the Manuherikia River in the Central Otago region of New Zealand's South Island. The fossil came from an area known as the Saint Bathans Fauna.

This ancient pigeon was quite large. It was most similar to, and likely related to, modern pigeons like the Hemiphaga (which includes the New Zealand pigeon). It also shared features with the Lopholaimus and Gymnophaps pigeons.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The name Rupephaps has two parts. "Rupe" is a word for "pigeon" in many Polynesian languages. It's also a special name for the New Zealand pigeon in Māori mythology. The second part, "phaps," comes from the Greek word for "pigeon."

The second part of its name, "taketake," is a Māori word. It means "long established," "ancient," or "original." This part of the name refers to how old the fossil specimen is. It reminds us that this pigeon lived a very long time ago!