What striking wildlife form mostly endemic to a large island gets its name from specimens prepared by traders without wings and feet lending to a belief that they are creatures that originated in an other-worldly place?
"destruction due to deforestation is now the predominant threat. Best known are the members of the genus ""Paradisaea"", including the type species, the greater bird-of-paradise, ""Paradisaea apoda"". This species was described from specimens brought back to Europe from trading expeditions in the early sixteenth century. These specimens had been prepared by native traders by removing their wings and feet so that they could be used as decorations. This was not known to the explorers, and in the absence of information many beliefs arose about them. They were briefly thought to be the mythical phoenix. The often footless and wingless condition"
"by storms. Many of the species found on remote islands are endemic to a particular island or group of islands, meaning they are found nowhere else on earth. Examples of species endemic to islands include many flightless birds of New Zealand, lemurs of Madagascar, the Komodo dragon of Komodo, the dragon's blood tree of Socotra, Tuatara of New Zealand, and others. However, many such endemic species are related to species found on other nearby islands or continents; the relationship of the animals found on the Galápagos Islands to those found in South America is a well-known example. All of these"
"""New Zealand Earth's Mythical Islands"". Kakapo The kakapo (Māori: kākāpō) or ""night parrot"", also called owl parrot (""Strigops habroptilus""), is a species of large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the super-family Strigopoidea, endemic to New Zealand. It has finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc, a large grey beak, short legs, large feet, and relatively short wings and tail. A combination of traits make it unique among its kind; it is the world's only flightless parrot, the heaviest parrot, nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate and no male parental care, and"
"large birds had existed, but the scarcity of animal food, as well as the easy method of entrapping them, has caused their extermination"". Polack further noted that he had received reports from Māori that a ""species of Struthio"" still existed in remote parts of the South Island. Dieffenbach also refers to a fossil from the area near Mt Hikurangi, and surmises that it belongs to ""a bird, now extinct, called Moa (or Movie) by the natives"". In 1839 John W. Harris, a Poverty Bay flax trader who was a natural history enthusiast, was given a piece of unusual bone by"
"Great auk The great auk (""Pinguinus impennis"") is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is not closely related to the birds now known as penguins, which were discovered later and so named by sailors because of their physical resemblance to the great auk. It bred on rocky, isolated islands with easy access to the ocean and a plentiful food supply, a rarity in nature that provided only a few breeding sites for the great auks. When not breeding, they spent their time foraging"
"open seas with fleets of ships, sea creatures, of which one is a dolphin, and a striking god-like figure which may be Triton. The unknown continental interiors are remarkably devoid of creatures and Mercator is for the most part content to create speculative mountain ranges, rivers and cities. The only land animal, in South America, is shown as """"…having under the belly a receptacle in which it keeps its young warm and takes them out but to suckle them."""" ( with text.) He also shows cannibals but this may have been true. The giants shown in Patagonia may also be"
"Flightless cormorant The flightless cormorant (""Phalacrocorax harrisi""), also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. Once it was placed in its own genus, ""Nannopterum"" or ""Compsohalieus"", although current taxonomy places it in the genus with most of the other cormorants, ""Phalacrocorax"". Like all cormorants, this bird has webbed feet and powerful legs that propel it through ocean waters as it seeks its prey of fish, eels, small octopuses,"
"Noble megapode The noble megapode (""Megavitiornis altirostris""), also known as the deep-billed megapode, is an extinct, flightless, giant stem-galliform bird that was endemic to Fiji. Originally thought to be a megapode, more recent morphological studies indicate a close relationship with ""Sylviornis"", in a clade outside of the Galliformes crown group. It is likely that it became extinct through overhunting shortly after the colonisation of the Fiji Islands by humans. The genus is monotypic, with the generic name ""Megavitiornis"" derived from the Greek ""mega"" (great), ""viti"" (Fiji), and ""ornis"" (bird). The specific epithet ""altirostris"" comes from Latin ""altus"" (high or noble),"
"been observed in some insular plants. Large mammalian carnivores are often absent on islands because of insufficient range or difficulties in over-water dispersal. In their absence, the ecological niches for large predators may be occupied by birds, reptiles or smaller carnivorans, which can then grow to larger-than-normal size. For example, on prehistoric Gargano Island in the Miocene-Pliocene Mediterranean, on islands in the Caribbean like Cuba, and on Madagascar and New Zealand, some or all apex predators were birds like eagles, falcons and owls, including some of the largest known examples of these groups. However, birds and reptiles generally make less"
"island. Soon afterward, the word ""Dry"" was added to the name, to indicate to mariners the islands' lack of springs.[4] Later seafarers would keep the turtles on their backs in the holds of sailing ships and butcher them when they wanted fresh meat. They are not related to the Caribbean island of Tortuga, near Hispaniola. The islands are home to Dry Tortugas National Park, and are accessible only by boat or seaplane. The large seabird colony, including sooty terns, brown noddy, masked booby and magnificent frigatebird, and the regular occurrence of Caribbean vagrant birds makes them a popular birding destination."
"originated from Woodlark Island. Today this rare snake is still only known from twelve specimens in four museums. Meek became a dealer in feathers and insects. In 1904 he travelled to Choiseul, where he collected the last specimens of the Choiseul crested pigeon. But, due to the horrible reputation of the islanders as cannibals, he was protected by an armed escort to bring the skins to his vessel. On an expedition in New Guinea in 1906 he discovered and shot the first specimen of the Queen Alexandra's birdwing (""Ornithoptera alexandrae""), the largest butterfly in the world. While on a visit"
"Gigantic octopus An unknown species of gigantic octopus has been hypothesised as a source of reports of sea monsters such as the lusca, kraken and akkorokamui as well as the source of some of the carcasses of unidentified origin known as globsters like the St. Augustine Monster. The species that the St. Augustine carcass supposedly represented has been assigned the binomial names """"Octopus giganteus"""" () and """"Otoctopus giganteus"""" (Greek prefix: ""oton"" = ear; giant-eared octopus), although these are not valid under the rules of the ICZN. They are not to be confused with the known giant Pacific octopus, which is"
"Gigantic octopus An unknown species of gigantic octopus has been hypothesised as a source of reports of sea monsters such as the lusca, kraken and akkorokamui as well as the source of some of the carcasses of unidentified origin known as globsters like the St. Augustine Monster. The species that the St. Augustine carcass supposedly represented has been assigned the binomial names """"Octopus giganteus"""" () and """"Otoctopus giganteus"""" (Greek prefix: ""oton"" = ear; giant-eared octopus), although these are not valid under the rules of the ICZN. They are not to be confused with the known giant Pacific octopus, which is"
"across the ocean is difficult for most land animals, and Oceania has relatively few indigenous land animals compared to other realms. Certain types of animals that are ecologically important on the continental realms, like large land predators and grazing mammals, were entirely absent from the islands of Oceania until humans brought them. Birds are relatively common, including many seabirds and some species of land birds whose ancestors may have been blown out to sea by storms. Some birds evolved into flightless species after their ancestors arrived, including several species of rails. A number of islands have indigenous lizards, including geckoes"
"together and making their nest in the middle. Several of these tree formations have been sighted. It has been theorized by scholars that chickcharney legends may have been inspired by persistent populations of ""Tyto pollens"", a tall, flightless species of barn-owl native to Andros. It was rumored to survive until the 16th century, until settlers felled the eastern Andros forests. Chickcharney The chickcharney (also known as the chickcharnie or chickcharnee) is a legendary creature in the folklore of Andros Island in the Bahama Islands. It is said to live in the forests, and furry, feathered and about tall, with an"
"significantly depleted in the past due to the fur trade. Most other terrestrial species, including wild reindeer, American mink and rats have all been introduced to the islands by man. Over a million seabirds gather to nest on numerous large colonies along almost all the coastal cliffs. The most common are northern fulmar; common, brunnich's and pigeon guillemots; horned and tufted puffins; cormorants; gulls; and kittiwakes including the extremely local red-legged kittiwake which nests in only a few other colonies in the world. Waterfowl and sandpipers are also abundant along the pre-lake depressions and river valleys of Bering Island, though"
"at the top of the food chain, these animals were unable to survive the journey. Thus the giant Galápagos tortoise became the largest land animal on the islands, and due to the lack of natural predators, the wildlife in the Galápagos is known for being extremely tame without instinctual fear. The Galápagos Islands are noted as a home to a large number of endemic species. The stark rocky islands (many with few plants) made it necessary for many species need to adapt to survive here and by doing so evolving into new endemic species. It was after visiting the Galápagos"
"continents or continental islands. Oceanic islands do not have native terrestrial mammals (they do sometimes have bats and seals), amphibians, or fresh water fish. In some cases they have terrestrial reptiles (such as the iguanas and giant tortoises of the Galápagos Islands) but often (such as in Hawaii) they do not. This is despite the fact that when species such as rats, goats, pigs, cats, mice, and cane toads, are introduced to such islands by humans they often thrive. Starting with Charles Darwin, many scientists have conducted experiments and made observations that have shown that the types of animals and"
"St. Kilda"" and ""Funk Island"". The English painter and writer Errol Fuller produced ""Last Stand"" for his monograph on the species. The great auk also appeared on one stamp in a set of five depicting extinct birds issued by Cuba in 1974. Great auk The great auk (""Pinguinus impennis"") is a species of flightless alcid that became extinct in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It is not closely related to the birds now known as penguins, which were discovered later and so named by sailors because of their physical resemblance to the"
"a few locations today. This strange and ancient plant has resisted all efforts to propagate it. Other unique plant species include the ""Rothmannia annae"" found only on Aride Island Special Reserve. The giant tortoises (""Aldabrachelys"") from Aldabra now populate many of the islands of the Seychelles. The Aldabra population is the largest in the world. These unique reptiles can be found even in captive herds. It has been reported that the granitic islands of Seychelles supported distinct species of Seychelles giant tortoises, but the status of the different populations is currently unclear. Two of them, Arnolds giant tortoise and the"
"of Kauai. Because of its unique apomorphies (it seems to have had small eyes high and far back on its head), the placement of this anatid is likewise unresolved; only dabbling ducks and true geese are with certainty known to have colonized the Hawaiian archipelago. Another bizarre insular anatine was ""Bambolinetta"" from the Late Miocene of Tuscana, then part of the Tuscano-Sardinian insular landmass. Flightless or at least a poor flyer, it instead shows adaptations for wing-propelled diving, occupying a similar ecological niche to that of penguins and plotopterids. Frequently placed into the Anatinae are these genera, whose relationships must"
"arrival of humans and non-native placental mammals) was the Haast's eagle; however, recent evidence from coprolites has shown that they also hosted several groups of host-specific parasites, including nematode worms. Heavy-footed moa The heavy-footed moa (""Pachyornis elephantopus"") is a species of moa from the family Dinornithidae. This moa was widespread only in the South Island of New Zealand, and its habitat was the lowlands (shrublands, dunelands, grasslands, and forests). It was a ratite and a member of the order Struthioniformes. The Struthioniformes are flightless birds with a sternum without a keel. They also have a distinctive palate. The origin of"
"Island (""C. iredalei""), the Auckland Islands (""C. aucklandica aucklandica""), and the Antipodes Islands (""C. a. meinertzhagenae""). Since then the same kind of tail-feather wear has been found on snipe from the Snares Islands (""C. huegeli""), and hakawai displays have been heard in the Auckland and Antipodes Islands, as well as from the newly described Campbell snipe (""C. a. perseverance"") on Campbell Island. Hakawai Hakawai, also Hokioi in the North Island, was to the New Zealand Māori people, a mythological bird that was sometimes heard but not usually seen. It is now associated with the nocturnal aerial displays made by ""Coenocorypha"""
"ulna, a distal left ulna, a distal-end left ulna proximal, and a half right femur. When the early settlers of the Lapita culture arrived in Tonga around 1500 BC, they found only marine species such as sea turtles and giant forms of terrestrial birds such as megapodes, doves, and rails. The hunting of these bird species for food led to their rapid extinction. In New Caledonia, the giant megapode might have survived into historic times. William Anderson, a naturalist and surgeon's mate aboard during James Cook's second South Sea voyage, described a bird from New Caledonia with bare legs, which"
"One of these, Painted Cave, is among the world's largest. Santa Cruz Island is home to some animals and plants found nowhere else on earth, including for instance the Santa Cruz Island fox (""Urocyon littoralis santacruzae""), a subspecies of the island fox. Archaeological investigations indicate that Santa Cruz Island has been occupied for at least 10,000 years. It was known as Limuw (place of the sea) or Michumash in the Chumash language. The people of the Chumash Indian tribe who lived on the island developed a highly complex society dependent on marine harvest, craft specialization and trade with the mainland"
"sandpiper related to or identical with the mysterious taxon from Kiritimati one lived on Teeraina. As with most outer Pacific islands, there are no native land mammals. Polynesian rats (""Rattus exulans"") are present on Teeraina, apparently since prehistoric times. They may have arrived with flotsam after storms further west, or accidentally or deliberately (as food) been introduced by prehistoric seafarers. Their present-day impact on the bird population is minor, but if rails were once present on Teeraina, the rats had probably some role in these birds' disappearance, and maybe in that of any other birds gone extinct in prehistoric times"
"within the species range, and the prevention of fishing with nets in the bird's foraging range. Flightless cormorant The flightless cormorant (""Phalacrocorax harrisi""), also known as the Galapagos cormorant, is a cormorant native to the Galapagos Islands, and an example of the highly unusual fauna there. It is unique in that it is the only cormorant that has lost the ability to fly. Once it was placed in its own genus, ""Nannopterum"" or ""Compsohalieus"", although current taxonomy places it in the genus with most of the other cormorants, ""Phalacrocorax"". Like all cormorants, this bird has webbed feet and powerful legs"
"Haʻapai of today. Large flightless birds called megapodes bounded through the tropical rain forest while giant iguanas and various other lizards rested on tree limbs. The skies hosted three different species of fruit bats, three different species of pigeon, and more than two dozen other types of birds. There were no pigs, horses, dogs, cows, or rats. There were no Tongans. The South Pacific, meanwhile, was almost completely uninhabited. Any present humans existed on the western fringes of the Solomon Islands. Then, around that time, these islanders were suddenly replaced by a new branch of humanity that originated from the"
"which became extinct shortly after human arrival. There are no native amphibians, with geckos holding many of their niches. The crested gecko (""Rhacodactylus ciliatus""), thought to have gone extinct, was rediscovered in 1994. At 14 inches, Leach's giant gecko (""Rhacodactylus leachianus""), the world's largest and a predator of smaller lizards is another native. The only native mammals are four species of bat including the endemic New Caledonia flying fox. New Caledonia is home to 13 of the 19 extant species of evergreens in the genus ""Araucaria"". The island has been called ""a kind of 'Jurassic Park'"" because of the archaic"
"Kakapo The kakapo (Māori: kākāpō) or ""night parrot"", also called owl parrot (""Strigops habroptilus""), is a species of large, flightless, nocturnal, ground-dwelling parrot of the super-family Strigopoidea, endemic to New Zealand. It has finely blotched yellow-green plumage, a distinct facial disc, a large grey beak, short legs, large feet, and relatively short wings and tail. A combination of traits make it unique among its kind; it is the world's only flightless parrot, the heaviest parrot, nocturnal, herbivorous, visibly sexually dimorphic in body size, has a low basal metabolic rate and no male parental care, and is the only parrot to"
"monkeys, the unique insectivore ""Nesophontes"", two of four species of solenodon, and a variety of rodents including all giant hutias, leaving only a few hutia species extant. Most of these species (the sloths, monkeys, and caviomorph rodents) were of South American origin. The oryzomyine rodents were of ultimately of Nearctic origin, but except for those on Jamaica would also have reached the Caribbean via South America. The origin(s) of the Caribbean eulipotyphlans are uncertain. Non-flying mammals of Cenozoic origin must have colonized the Caribbean islands by some combination of rafting and/or use of a ""land span"" (a temporary land bridge"
"gigantism or insular gigantism. It occurs when the size of the animals that are isolated on an island increases dramatically in comparison to their mainland relatives. This is due to several factors such as relaxed predation pressure, competitive release, or as an adaptation to increased environmental fluctuations on islands. However, giant tortoises are no longer considered to have been examples of island gigantism, as they originally evolved their massive sizes on the mainland. Giant tortoises were once common across the Cenozoic faunas of Eurasia, Africa and the Americas. These animals belong to an ancient group of reptiles, appearing about 250"
"trade. As of early 2017, the population in the wild is believed to have crashed as low as 2,000 individuals due to habitat loss, poaching and hunting, making them far more critically endangered. Although the term ""lemur"" was first intended for slender lorises, it was soon limited to the endemic Malagasy primates, which have been known as ""lemurs"" ever since. The name derives from the Latin term ""lemures"", which refers to specters or ghosts that were exorcised during the Lemuria festival of ancient Rome. According to Carl Linnaeus's own explanation, the name was selected because of the nocturnal activity and"