Hodgens' Waterhen
Encyclopedia
The Hodgens' Waterhen is an extinct rail
species from New Zealand
. Its name commedorates the Hodgen brothers who were owners of the Pyramid Valley swamp where the holotype
was discovered.
The Hodgens' Waterhen was closely related to the Black-tailed Native-hen
(Gallinula ventralis) and the Tasmanian Native-hen
(Gallinula mortierii). The species was first described by Ron Scarlett
as Rallus hodgeni in 1955. Storrs L. Olson
transferred it into the genus Gallinula in 1975 and changed its specific epithet to
hodgenorum in 1986. The Hodgens' Waterhen is only known from subfossil material of which the youngest Māori midden
record is from the 18th century. Hundreds of bones unearthed at Pyramid Valley
on South Island
, at Lake Poukawa
on North Island
and several other sites indicating that it was once widespread in New Zealand except on the Chatham Islands
. The Hodgens' Waterhen reached a weight of 280 g and its wings were so reduced that it was not able to fly. This waterhen occupied a white range of habitats like open forests or grassland on river shores. The main reasons for its extinction are possible the predation by the Pacific rat and the hunting by human settlers.
Rallidae
The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
species from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Its name commedorates the Hodgen brothers who were owners of the Pyramid Valley swamp where the holotype
Holotype
A holotype is a single physical example of an organism, known to have been used when the species was formally described. It is either the single such physical example or one of several such, but explicitly designated as the holotype...
was discovered.
The Hodgens' Waterhen was closely related to the Black-tailed Native-hen
Black-tailed Native-hen
The Black-tailed Nativehen, , is a rail native to Australia and New Zealand.-Description:The Black-tailed Nativehen is a large dark bird, reaching about 38 cm in length and weighing around 400g which is close to the weight of a soccer ball. This species possesses an erect tail and is endowed...
(Gallinula ventralis) and the Tasmanian Native-hen
Tasmanian Native-hen
The Tasmanian Nativehen is a flightless rail and one of twelve species of birds endemic to the Australian island of Tasmania...
(Gallinula mortierii). The species was first described by Ron Scarlett
Ron Scarlett
Ronald Jack Scarlett MBE better known as Ron Scarlett was a paleozoologist from New Zealand.Scarlett was born at Stoke, near Nelson on March 22, 1911 to Walter Andrew Scarlett and Lilian Elsie . He was the oldest child of four brothers and four sisters...
as Rallus hodgeni in 1955. Storrs L. Olson
Storrs L. Olson
Storrs Lovejoy Olson is an American biologist and ornithologist from the Smithsonian Institution. He is one of the world's foremost avian paleontologists....
transferred it into the genus Gallinula in 1975 and changed its specific epithet to
hodgenorum in 1986. The Hodgens' Waterhen is only known from subfossil material of which the youngest Māori midden
Midden
A midden, is an old dump for domestic waste which may consist of animal bone, human excrement, botanical material, vermin, shells, sherds, lithics , and other artifacts and ecofacts associated with past human occupation...
record is from the 18th century. Hundreds of bones unearthed at Pyramid Valley
Pyramid Valley
Pyramid Valley is a limestone rock formation near Waikari in the North Canterbury region of New Zealand. It lies 80 km north-west of Christchurch. On the foot of the valley is a swamp which became notable in 1939 as New Zealand's largest paleontological site for moa fossils...
on South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, at Lake Poukawa
Lake Poukawa
Lake Poukawa is a small shallow hardwater lake in the Hawke's Bay Region, North Island, New Zealand. It is located about 20 km south-west of Hastings, New Zealand, close to the settlement of Te Hauke. It is the largest lake lying within a peatland in the active tectonic Poukawa depression, between...
on North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
and several other sites indicating that it was once widespread in New Zealand except on the Chatham Islands
Chatham Islands
The Chatham Islands are an archipelago and New Zealand territory in the Pacific Ocean consisting of about ten islands within a radius, the largest of which are Chatham Island and Pitt Island. Their name in the indigenous language, Moriori, means Misty Sun...
. The Hodgens' Waterhen reached a weight of 280 g and its wings were so reduced that it was not able to fly. This waterhen occupied a white range of habitats like open forests or grassland on river shores. The main reasons for its extinction are possible the predation by the Pacific rat and the hunting by human settlers.