Recent research has overturned the longstanding belief that iconic New Zealand species like the kiwi, moa, and takahē are ancient natives of the region. Palaeontologists working at the St Bathans fossil site in Central Otago have found evidence that these birds arrived in New Zealand only a few million years ago, rather than being native since ancient times.
Paul Scofield, senior curator of natural history at Canterbury Museum, noted that while species such as the kākāpō are indeed ancient New Zealand natives, DNA analysis indicates that the kiwi and moa diverged from Gondwanan ancestors in South America and Madagascar approximately 30 to 40 million years ago.
The St Bathans excavation, which has been ongoing for 23 years, has also revealed other extraordinary fauna, including two species of crocodiles and a potentially flightless bat. This research continues to uncover new species and provide insights into the unique and unusual wildlife that once thrived in New Zealand.
