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Study of Endangered Penguin Leads to Extinct Bird
JUNE 10, 2009John Roach, MSNBCScientists studying how populations of the rare and endangered yellow-eyed penguin, shown here, have changed since human settlement in New Zealand discovered a previously unknown species of penguin that went extinct about 500 years ago.
The team identified the genetic signature of the extinct species, called the Waitaha penguin, while testing DNA from what they thought were bones of the yellow-eyed penguin. The DNA and other differences led them to conclude the bones belonged to the closely related, now extinct bird. The find suggests that the first humans on New Zealand hunted the Waitaha to extinction, opening up a niche for the yellow-eyed penguin to fill.
The yellow-eyed penguin is considered one of the world's rarest penguins; about 7,000 are thought to live in New Zealand.
© 2008 msnbc.com
Reproduced with permission of MSNBC, from A nestful of amazing bird sightings by John Roach; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
You can read this story in its original location and view more bird photos at: www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31108698/?pg=11#Tech_BirdSightings
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