Waitaha penguin facts for kids

The Waitaha penguin (Megadyptes waitaha) was a type of New Zealand penguin that is now extinct. Scientists first learned about this species in November 2008.

Scientists from the University of Otago and the University of Adelaide found the Waitaha penguin. They studied old penguin foot bones, some from 500 years ago, some from 100 years ago, and some from today. At first, they thought all these bones came from the yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). This penguin species has been in danger since people first settled in New Zealand.

However, the 500-year-old subfossil bones had different DNA. This showed it was a new species. Sanne Boessenkool, who led the research, said that Waitaha penguins were about 10% smaller than yellow-eyed penguins. She also noted that the two species were very closely related.

Dr. Jeremy Austin, another team member, explained something important. He said that yellow-eyed penguins living on mainland New Zealand today are not the last of a large group. Instead, they came from the subantarctic islands more recently. They moved in after the Waitaha penguin disappeared.

When Did the Waitaha Penguin Live?

The local Māori people did not have any stories or records about this different penguin species. This suggests that the Waitaha penguin died out a long time ago. Experts believe it disappeared between the years 1300 and 1500. This was soon after Polynesian settlers arrived in New Zealand.

Why Did the Waitaha Penguin Disappear?

It's not fully clear why the Waitaha penguin became extinct. However, Sanne Boessenkool thinks that the early settlers likely hunted them for food. She explained that bones of these penguins are found in old village sites. This suggests that hunting played a part in their disappearance. The penguins were an easy target because they were not very many of them.

After the Waitaha penguins were gone, yellow-eyed penguins moved into their old homes. Before this, yellow-eyed penguins mostly lived on the subantarctic islands further south. It's possible that fewer sea lions after human settlement also helped the yellow-eyed penguins spread. Dr. Phil Seddon, another researcher, said these findings show how much ecosystems can change. When one species is lost, it can create chances for another species to grow. The study was published in the science journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

How Did the Penguin Get Its Name?

The Waitaha penguin was named after the Māori iwi (tribe) called Waitaha. The lands where the Waitaha penguin is thought to have lived were once part of the Waitaha tribe's territory.

See also

• Yellow-eyed penguin