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339 / Recently extinct
Aptornis
Aptornis otidiformis
Powerful legs and a heavy bill belonged to a flightless ground forager.
- Time range
- About 20,000 years ago–13th century
- Final stage
- Late Holocene
- Geographic range
- Forest, wetland and coast · North Island, New Zealand
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Aptornis?
Aptornis (Aptornis otidiformis) was an extinct organism known from About 20,000 years ago–13th century, with a range in Forest, wetland and coast · North Island, New Zealand.
Life and ecology
Aptornis searched leaf litter and wetland margins for animals and plant matter.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Aptornis disappear?
Hunting, landscape burning and introduced rats followed Polynesian arrival.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Aptornis?
Cave, trap and archaeological bones record two body forms across New Zealand.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS