Study finds seabird to have a distinct New Zealand whakapapa

Description

The grey-faced petrel will be well-known to many as the North Island muttonbird (or oi, kuia or tītī to North Island iwi).

In a study just published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, scientists from Landcare Research, Canterbury Museum, Department of Conservation and the University of Canberra analysed the mitochondrial DNA, morphology, biology and behaviour of the grey-faced petrel, revealing it to be highly distinct from the great-winged petrel, and all other petrel species.

Subject

Biological Sciences; Zoology