Science Article Solves Big Bird Mystery
Submitted by Chickowee on 24 May 2014.
South Australian Museum Senior Researcher Dr Mike Lee, and Research Associate Trevor Worthy, are part of a team of researchers who have rewritten the evolutionary history of giant flightless birds called ratites, and solved the mystery of how they migrated across the globe after the mass extinction of dinosaurs. Until now, the closest relatives of the New Zealand Kiwi were thought to be the Australian emu and cassowary. However, a paper published today in the prestigious journal Science reveals that the New Zealand Kiwi’s closest cousin is a giant extinct bird from much further away: Madagascar! The team was led by Mr Kieran Mitchell and Professor Alan Cooper from the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA at the University of Adelaide. Read the full story, or download a PDF at the website of the South Australian Museum.
