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June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

June 1 - 3 , 1978 - University of Hawaii at Manoa

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PREHISTORIC HAWAIIAN BIRDS *<br />

Alan C. Ziegler<br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Vertebr<strong>at</strong>e Zoology<br />

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum<br />

Honolulu, <strong>Hawaii</strong> 96818<br />

Until recently, the prehistoric <strong>Hawaii</strong>an avifauna was known<br />

only by the 1926 find <strong>of</strong> an extinct goose under 25 m <strong>of</strong> lava <strong>at</strong><br />

Pahala on Hawai'i. Since 1971, however, remains <strong>of</strong> 20 or more<br />

previously unknown prehistoric <strong>Hawaii</strong>an bird taxa have been<br />

recovered from Moloka'i and Kaua'i (windblown sand dunes), Maui<br />

(lava tube), and O'ahu (solution pits in raised limestone reef).<br />

A radiocarbon age <strong>of</strong> 26,000 years for a Moloka'i goose skeleton<br />

is the only d<strong>at</strong>e presently available.<br />

A remarkable flightless component <strong>of</strong> this extinct avifauna<br />

comprises several geese and rails, and the first known flightless<br />

ibis. Yet-undescribed flighted birds include eagle, owl, and<br />

raven, as well as a variety <strong>of</strong> finch-like passerines. <strong>Hawaii</strong>an<br />

Hawk, Nene, <strong>Hawaii</strong>an Duck, and Chaetoptila (a meliphagid), or<br />

closely rel<strong>at</strong>ed forms, apparently occurred contemporaneously.<br />

Present-day n<strong>at</strong>ive wading and marsh birds are rel<strong>at</strong>ively scarce<br />

or absent in the prehistoric deposits. Remains <strong>of</strong> modern Dre-<br />

panididae seem lacking in all sites except those <strong>of</strong> Kaua'i, pos-<br />

sibly because <strong>of</strong> a rel<strong>at</strong>ively more recent d<strong>at</strong>e for these l<strong>at</strong>ter<br />

deposits.<br />

Absence <strong>of</strong> terrestrial pred<strong>at</strong>ors originally allowed survival<br />

<strong>of</strong> flightlessness in Hawai'i, and lowered metabolic requirements<br />

<strong>of</strong> the flightless individuals constituted a selective advantage.<br />

Evolution <strong>of</strong> flightlessness in the Islands probably represents<br />

neoteny, r<strong>at</strong>her than the more common long-term incremental selec-<br />

tive process. Time and cause <strong>of</strong> extinction <strong>of</strong> this prehistoric<br />

avifauna is unknown but, although no evidence has thus far been<br />

found, it is quite possible th<strong>at</strong> original Polynesian settlers or<br />

their associ<strong>at</strong>ed animals were involved.<br />

* Abstract

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