The New Zealand quail (''Coturnix novaezelandiae''), or ''koreke'' in Māori language, Māori, is an extinct quail species endemic to New Zealand. The male and female were similar, except the female was lighter. The first scientist to describe it was Joseph Banks, Sir Joseph Banks when he visited New Zealand on James Cook's first voyage. Terrestrial and temperate, this species inhabited lowland tussock grassland and open fernlands. The first specimen to be obtained by a European was collected in 1827 by Jean René Constant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard on Dumont D'Urville's voyage.

History

Research was conducted between 2007 and 2009 into whether the quails on Tiritiri Matangi Island – which was spared the worst impact of invasive species, introduced predators – might be a surviving population of this species, or ''koreke''-brown quail (''Synoicus ypsilophora'') Hybrid (biology), hybrids. However, a genetic study showed instead that the quail on Tiritiri Matangi are Australian brown quail, ''Synoicus ypsilophora''. Sequences were derived for all quail species within the Australian and New Zealand ''Coturnix sp''. complex.

Taxonomy

It has sometimes been considered conspecific with the Australian stubble quail (''Coturnix pectoralis''), which would then be named ''Coturnix novaezelandiae pectoralis'' as the New Zealand bird was described first. However, the genetic analysis showed that they are separate though closely related species.Seabrook-Davison, M.; Huynen, L.; Lambert, D.M.; and Brunton D.H. (2009). Ancient DNA Resolves Identity and Phylogeny of New Zealand's Extinct and Living Quail (Coturnix sp.). ''PLoS ONE'' 4(7), e6400. .

Gallery

File:New Zealand Quail.jpg, Illustration File:Extinct birds - an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times - that is, within the last six or seven hundred years - to which are (14770671773).jpg, Illustration of the Chatham rail and the New Zealand quail from 1907

References

External links

Koreke, the New Zealand Quail
(with pictures, article, taxonomy, & description).
3D view
of specimens RMNH 110.051 and RMNH 110.052 at Naturalis, Leiden (requires QuickTime browser plugin).
''New Zealand Quail / Koreke. Coturnix novaezelandiae''
by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book ''Extinct Birds of New Zealand'', by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
''The Quail (male and female) Coturnix Novae Zealandie''
by Johannes Keulemans in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
''New Zealand Quail''
by George Lodge, 1913 in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa {{Taxonbar, from=Q733377 Coturnix, New Zealand quail Extinct birds of New Zealand Bird extinctions since 1500 Species made extinct by human activities Birds described in 1830, New Zealand quail Species endangered by disease Taxa named by Jean René Constant Quoy Taxa named by Joseph Paul Gaimard