truffles (velvet potato fungus)

What Connects Extinct Moas, Colorful Truffles, and Climate Change?

New Zealand, known for its unique flora and fauna, holds many secrets from the past. One of these was recently uncovered by a study published in Biology Letters: The extinct upland moa (Megalapteryx didinus) was not only a majestic bird but also played a key role in spreading the spores

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Thylacine Genome Reconstruction

Putrid Museum Find Reveals 99.9% of Thylacine Genome

Researchers recently found a long-overlooked bucket in the back of a Melbourne Museum cabinet, containing a well-preserved thylacine head stored in ethanol for over 110 years. Andrew Pask, head of the Tigrr Lab at the University of Melbourne, described the sight as “gruesome” in an interview with The Guardian, noting

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Night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis)

Australia: Largest Known Population of the Extremely Rare Night Parrot Discovered

An article published in September 2024 in the Journal of Wildlife Research reports the discovery of the largest known population of the night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis) in the eastern Pilbara region of Western Australia. A team of Indigenous rangers and scientists tracked down a colony of about 50 birds –

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Giant Haast's eagle attacking New Zealand moa

Haast’s Eagle

The largest bird of prey in modern times Before humans settled in New Zealand around 700 years ago and introduced invasive species like cats and rats, there were no land-dwelling mammals on the islands – aside from three species of bats. Instead, the ecosystem was dominated by approximately 250 bird

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huia by Buller

Huia

When males and females appear as two different species The pronounced sexual dimorphism between female and male huia caused confusion in the past. This confusion was so significant that, in 1836, the English ornithologist John Gould described male and female huia as different species. Even today, the development of gender-specific

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Huia pair (Heteralocha acutirostris)

Taxidermied Huia Pair Expected to Fetch Up to NZ$128,000 at London Auction

A rare taxidermied pair of huia birds could fetch up to NZ$128,000 at an auction in London. Organized by Roseberys London, the auction is scheduled for October 2024. The huia pair, consisting of a male and a female, dates back to the late 19th century and is considered extremely rare.

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Mecodema oconnori belongs to the same genus as the Stephens Island weevil

Stephens Island Weevil

From isolated paradise to endangered habitat Stephens Island, a small rocky island in the Cook Strait, is renowned for its unique wildlife. Despite covering only 1.5 square kilometers, the island boasts a remarkable ecosystem that was once home to numerous endemic species, including many land and seabirds. Among its notable

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Traversia lyalli Stephens Island wren or Lyall's wren

Lyall’s Wren

The tragic story of the Lyall’s wren Like the dodo, the Lyall’s wren, also known als Stephens Island wren, stands as one of the most well-known examples of bird species extinction, as the circumstances of its disappearance are both poignant and tragic. The story of the Lyall’s wren is often

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hunting scene with moas

In the Footsteps of Moas: Where New Zealand’s Flightless Birds Find Refuge

The settlement of the Pacific Islands by humans led to rapid waves of extinction for many animal species, whose dynamics are difficult to reconstruct. Among the affected species were the wingless moas, which were only found in New Zealand. These often massive birds went extinct in the 14th or 15th

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Thylacine

Tasmanian wolf or Tasmanian tiger: Neither wolf nor tiger The name Tasmanian wolf might be misleading, as that animal was neither a wolf nor did it resemble one. Rather, its physique was more similar to a dog or dingo; with shorter front legs than hind legs, the thylacine even resembled

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