Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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The youngest giant : discovery and significance of the remains of a giant moa (Dinornis giganteus) near Turangi, in central North Island, New Zealand

Trevor H. Worthy

Palaeofaunal Surveys, 2A Willow Park Drive, Masterton, New Zealand. email: twmoa@wise.net.nz

Abstract  A partial skeleton of Dinornis giganteus , radiocarbon dated to 683-651 CAL yr BP, is reported from a pumice pitfall trap near Turangi, close to Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand. A review of other, mostly unpublished, moa discoveries from the Volcanic Plateau region indicates that all seven North Island species formerly occurred there in the late Holocene.

Keywords   Dinornis giganteus skeleton; Turangi; Holocene; moa sites; Volcanic Plateau; North Island; New Zealand

R00055 Received 1 November 2000; accepted 12 June 2001
© Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 32, Number 1, March 2002, pp 183–187

PDF file of entire paper: Print-quality (46K)

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