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Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstractsTwo late-Glacial avifaunas from eastern North Island, New Zealand - Te Aute Swamp and Wheturau QuarryTrevor H. WorthyPalaeofaunal Surveys, 43 The Ridgeway, Nelson, New ZealandLate-Glacial faunas from Wheturau Quarry near Gisborne and Te Aute, near Napier, North Island, New Zealand, are described and radiocarbon dates presented. These faunas suggest that the eastern North Island was covered in open shrubland until 10 500 yrs B.P. There were significant changes in the fauna of the eastern North Island during the early Holocene, when the dominant moa species was replaced; the key species Cnemiornis gracilis disappeared from the fauna; and others, such as Euryanas finschi, became scarce. The Wheturau fauna includes the largest collection of Cnemiornis gracilis bones yet found, and a storm petrel that may be Oceanites maorianus, named from three skins collected last century off Banks Peninsula. The Te Aute site is notable for the large number of moa bones preserved, especially Euryapteryx curtus and Dinornis giganteus. It is also the type locality for Dinornis gazella Oliver, Cnemiornis gracilis Forbes, Circus teauteensis Forbes, Circus hamiltoni Forbes, and Phalacrocorax novaezealandiae var. major Forbes. The record of Harpagornis moorei from Te Aute is shown to have been an error in identification by Hamilton, and Harpagornis is therefore unknown from the North Island.Keywords late-Glacial; avifauna; H. O. Forbes; Te Aute; Wheturau; North Island; New Zealand; radiocarbon dates; palaeoenvironment
(c) Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 30, Number 1, March 2000, pp 1-25
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