''Pachyplichas'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...
containing two
extinct species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
New Zealand wren
The New Zealand wrens are a family (Acanthisittidae) of tiny passerines endemic to New Zealand. They were represented by seven Holocene species in four or five genera, although only two species in two genera survive today. They are understood to ...
, a
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
of small birds
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
.
Species
* †''
P. yaldwyni'' (
South Island stout-legged wren
The South Island stout-legged wren or Yaldwyn's wren (''Pachyplichas yaldwyni'') is an extinct species of New Zealand wren, a family of small birds endemic to New Zealand.
History and etymology
The holotype is a right tarsometatarsus (NMNZS 2 ...
) –
South Island, New Zealand
* †''
P. jagmi'' (
North Island stout-legged wren
The North Island stout-legged wren or Grant-Mackie's wren (''Pachyplichas jagmi'') is an extinct species of New Zealand wren, a family of small birds endemic to New Zealand.
History and etymology
The holotype is a right tarsometatarsus (AU 7 ...
) –
North Island, New Zealand
Description
The stout-legged wrens formed a
species pair
In biology, a species complex is a group of closely related organisms that are so similar in appearance and other features that the boundaries between them are often unclear. The taxa in the complex may be able to hybridize readily with each oth ...
. They had reduced wings and robust legs indicating that they were adapted to a
terrestrial
Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth.
Terrestrial may also refer to:
* Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...
existence and were either
flightless or nearly so.
[Millener (1988).] Genetic evidence has indicated that Pachyplichas is nested within ''
Xenicus
''Xenicus'' is a genus of birds in the family ''Acanthisittidae''. It contains New Zealand wrens.
Species
*New Zealand rock wren, ''Xenicus gilviventris''
* Bushwren, †''Xenicus longipes'' (extinct)
Lyall's wren
Lyall's wren or the Stephe ...
,'' and stout legged wrens must have evolved from a gracile legged ancestor. A cladogram is given below.''
''
References
Notes
Sources
*
Extinct birds of New Zealand
Holocene extinctions
Fossil taxa described in 1988
Bird genera
Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
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