North Island brown kiwi

The North Island brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli; Apteryx australis or Apteryx bulleri[5] as before 2000, still used in some sources), is a species of kiwi that is widespread in the northern two-thirds of the North Island of New Zealand and, with about 35,000 remaining,[2] is the most common kiwi. This bird holds the world record for laying the largest eggs relative to its body size.[6]

North Island brown kiwi
North Island brown kiwi, (Apteryx mantelli)
Male song
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Apterygiformes
Family: Apterygidae
Genus: Apteryx
Species:
A. mantelli
Binomial name
Apteryx mantelli
(Bartlett, 1851)[2]
The distribution of North Island brown kiwi
Synonyms
  • Apteryx australis var. mantelli (Bartlett 1852) Finsch 1872[3][4]
  • Apteryx australis mantelli (Bartlett 1852) Checklist Committee 1953
  • Apteryx bulleri Sharpe 1888
  • Apteryx mantelli mantelli Bartlett 1852
  • Apteryx mantelli novaezelandiae (Lesson 1828)
  • Apteryx australis novaezealandiae (Lesson 1828)
  • Dromiceius novaezelandiae Lesson 1828 nomen nudum

Genetics

The genome of Apteryx mantelli was sequenced in 2015.[7]

Taxonomy
Brown kiwi chick

Until 2000, the brown kiwi (then Apteryx australis) was thought to include the rowi and the tokoeka, in addition to the North Island brown kiwi. However using genetic codes from each of the above it was determined that the tokoeka was a separate species, it took the Apteryx australis name, leaving the brown kiwi with its current Apteryx mantelli name. Soon after, in 1998, more genetic tests were done with the rowi and it was determined that it (the rowi) was a separate species (Apteryx rowi). In 2004 an injured bird was found with streaked white around the head and identified by Massey University.[8] The white feathering is likely due to a rarely seen genetic variation sometimes described as a partial albino. Few documented cases exist with only a painting of one found in Otorohanga in the 18th century and a specimen in the Canterbury Museum. The injured bird recovered and was introduced into a breeding programme.

The brown kiwi was first described as Apteryx australis by Abraham Dee Bartlett, in 1813, based on a specimen from Dusky Sound, South Island, New Zealand.[9] This is a monotypic species.[10]

Breeding population and trends
Location Population Date Trend
North Island[11]25002008Decreasing -4% yr
Little Barrier Island[2]25001996Stable
Ponui Island[2]Stable
Kapiti Island[11]Stable
Kawau Island[2]Stable
Total (New Zealand)5000[2]1996Decreasing -2% yr[11]

Range and habitat

Brown kiwi are found throughout the North Island, occurring near Northland, Coromandel, Eastern North Island, Aroha Island, Little Barrier Island, Kawau Island, Ponui Island, and the Whanganui Region. The North Island brown kiwi has demonstrated a remarkable resilience: it has adapted to live on scrub-like farm land, pine (an introduced tree) plantations, and their native forests, but it still prefers dense, sub-tropical and temperate forest.[12]

Description
A rare white Apteryx mantelli

Females stand about 40 cm (16 in) high and weigh about 2.8 kg (6.2 lb) the males about 2.2 kg (4.9 lb). The plumage is streaky red-brown and spiky. The North Island brown kiwi is the only species of kiwi found internationally in zoos.

Behavior

These kiwi, like all kiwi, feed on invertebrates. They have 2-3 clutches a year with 2 eggs in each clutch. Chicks are fully feathered at hatching and are precocial, being able to leave the nest and fend for themselves within a week.[12]

Conservation

The North Island brown kiwi is Vulnerable, per the IUCN Red List,[1] with the major threat coming from predators, such as dogs, cats, and stoat (Mustela erminea). 94% of chicks die before breeding in areas where mammalian pest control is not carried out.[12] It has an occurrence range of 38,400 km2 (14,800 sq mi), with a population, estimated in 2000, of 35,000.[2]

Nationwide studies show that on average only 5 percent of kiwi chicks survive to adulthood. However, in areas under active pest management, survival rates for North Island brown kiwi can be far higher. For example, prior to a joint 1080 poison operation undertaken by DOC and the Animal Health Board in Tongariro Forest in 2006, 32 kiwi chicks were radio-tagged. 57% of the radio-tagged chicks survived to adulthood. Thanks to ongoing pest control, the adult kiwi population at Tongariro has almost doubled since 1998.

References
  1. BirdLife International. 2017. Apteryx mantelli. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017: e.T45353580A119177586. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T45353580A119177586.en. Downloaded on 31 December 2018.
  2. BirdLife International (2008)
  3. Gill; et al. (2010). "Checklist of the birds of New Zealand, Norfolk and Macquarie Islands, and the Ross Dependency, Antarctica" (PDF) (4th ed.). Te Papa Press. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
  4. Ümüt Çınar (2015). "01 Pᴀʟᴇᴏɢɴᴀᴛʜᴀᴇ : Sᴛʀᴜᴛʜɪᴏɴɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Rʜᴇɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Cᴀsᴜᴀʀɪɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Aᴘᴛᴇʀʏɢɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Aᴇᴘʏᴏʀɴɪᴛʜɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Dɪɴᴏʀɴɪᴛʜɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Lɪᴛʜᴏʀɴɪᴛʜɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs, Tɪɴᴀᴍɪfᴏʀᴍᴇs & Rᴇfᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇs". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  5. A History of the Birds of New Zealand
  6. Guinness World Records 2013, Page 050, Hardcover Edition. ISBN 9781904994879
  7. Kiwi genome provides insights into evolution of a nocturnal lifestyle. Le Duc & al. Genome Biology 2015, 16:147 doi:10.1186/s13059-015-0711-4
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 18 February 2007. Retrieved 26 September 2007.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. Davies, S. J. J. F. (2003)
  10. Clements, J (2007)
  11. Save the Kiwi (2008)
  12. BirdLife International

Further reading
  • Davies, S.J.J.F. (2003). "Kiwis". In Hutchins, Michael (ed.). Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. 8 Birds I Tinamous and Ratites to Hoatzins (2nd ed.). Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Group. pp. 89–92. ISBN 978-0-7876-5784-0.
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