Great Spotted Kiwi
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| Great Spotted Kiwi | ||||||||||||||
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| Apteryx haastii (Potts, 1872) |
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 Range of the Great Spotted Kiwi
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The Great Spotted Kiwi or Roroa (Apteryx haastii) is a relatively common species of kiwi from the South Island of New Zealand. Unlike its smaller cousin, the Little Spotted Kiwi, the Roroa was able to elude predators, which include pigs, dogs, ferrets and stoats. Despite this, there has been a 43% decline in population, likely due to these invasive species. This has led it to be classified as Vulnerable.[1] The Great Spotted Kiwi is the largest kiwi both in weight (females about 3.3 kg. males about 2.4 kg) and height (45cm or 18in.) There are about 20,000 great spotted kiwis in total, almost all in the more mountainous parts of northwest Nelson, the northwest coast, and the Southern Alps.[2] A small population was also introduced on Little Barrier Island.[3]
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[edit] Discovery
Before the Great Spotted Kiwi was discovered, several stories circulated about the existence of a large kiwi called the Maori Roaroa. In 1871, two specimens were brought to the Canterbury Museum, where they were identified as a new species and were named after the museum's curator, Dr. Haast.[4]
[edit] Distribution and habitat
These kiwis live in higher altitude areas. Populations are present at Nelson, the northwest coast, and the Southern Alps,[2] as well as at Lake Rotoiti Mainland Island[2] and Little Barrier Island.[3] The Southern Alps population is isolated.[2]
[edit] Conservation
This bird is often preyed upon by invasive pigs, dogs, ferrets and stoats. It has more of an advantage than other kiwi species over these predators because it lives in rugged areas, where the wet upland population thrives.[2] However, there has been a decrease in population of 43%,[1] which is about 2% a year.[2] It is classified by the IUCN Red List as a Vulnerable species.[1] The most threatened population is in the lower areas.[2]
[edit] Behavior
Males are fiercely territorial.[2] They dig burrows to sleep in. The Great Spotted Kiwi is nocturnal in behavior.[5]
[edit] Diet
The Great Spotted Kiwi has a good sense of smell. In the ground they search for earthworms and grubs.[5] Most of their diet is composed of invertebrates such as beetles, cicada, crickets, flies, weta, spiders, caterpillars, slugs and snails.[6] They will also feed on berries and seeds.[5] To find prey, the Great Spotted Kiwi use their scenting skills or feel vibrations caused by the movement of their prey.[6] To do the latter, a kiwi would stick its beak into the ground.[7] They then use their beaks to dig into the ground.[5] As they are nocturnal, they do not emerge until thirty minutes after sunset to begin the hunt.[7]
[edit] Predation
Because adult Great Spotted Kiwis are large and powerful, they are able to fend off most predators that attack them, such as stoats, ferrets, possums and cats. However, dogs are able to kill even adults. Stoats, ferrets, possums, cats and dogs will feed on the eggs and chicks, meaning 95% of chicks die within their first five months of living.[6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Apteryx haastii. 2007 IUCN Red List. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h About The Bird:Great Spotted. Save the Kiwi. Retrieved on 2008-01-20.
- ^ a b KIWIS Apterygidae. MontereyBay.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ Great spotted Kiwi. New Zealand birds and birding. Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
- ^ a b c d Great Spotted Main Page. Centralpets.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
- ^ a b c Kiwi. The Arthur's Pass Outdoor Education Centre. Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
- ^ a b Apteryx haastii. Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on 2008-04-20.
