Kagu

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Kagu
Conservation status
Endangered
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Gruiformes Family: Rhynochetidae Carus, 1868 Genus: Rhynochetos Species: R. jubatus
Binomial name
Rhynochetos jubatus Verreaux & DesMurs, 1860

The Kagu or Cagou (Rhynochetos jubatus) is a long-legged greyish bird, the only member of the family Rhynochetidae. It is found only in the dense mountain forests of New Caledonia. It is almost flightless, and builds a ground nest of sticks, laying a single egg. It has proved vulnerable to introduced rats and cats, and is threatened with extinction. The remote habitat and rarity of this species mean that little is known of its habits.

Contents 1 Description 2 Threats and Conservation 3 Classification 4 Gallery 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Description

The Kagu is a ground living bird about the size of a chicken found in the forests and shrubland of New Caledonia. Its plumage is unusually bright for a bird of the forest floor; ash-grey and white coloured. Its feathers are powder-downs which help keep it dry and insulate it in New Caledonia's tropical climate. They possess a crest used for displaying to other members of the species. It is nearly flightless, using its wings for displays (its primary wing feathers are patterned), and for moving quickly through the forest. It can also use them to glide when fleeing danger. It possesses bright red legs and a similarly coloured bill, and has large forward pointing eyes which give it binocular vision, good for finding its prey in the leaf litter and seeing in the gloom of the forest. Kagus make a range of different sounds, most commonly duetting in the morning, each duet lasting about 15 minutes. It possesses 'nasal corns', structures covering its nostrils, which are a feature not shared by any other bird.

[edit] Threats and Conservation

The Kagu is listed as endangered (CITES I), and enjoys full protection in New Caledonia. It is threatened by the introduced cats, pigs and dogs. Its initial decline was caused by hunting for the pot, and by keeping as pets. They also suffer from habitat loss, caused by mining and forestry. The Kagu has been the subject of highly dedicated conservation efforts, and is receptive to ex-situ conservation, breeding well in Nouméa Zoo. It is also doing well in Rivière Bleue Park, which has a pest management programme and has been the site of releases into the wild of the captive bred birds. Kagus are considered very important in New Caledonia, it is a high profile endemic emblem for the Territory. Its survival is considered important for the nation's economy and image.

[edit] Classification

The Kagu's affinities are uncertain too, although usually the Kagu is considered to be within the Gruiformes. It was initially classed as a member of the family Ardeidae because of its powder-downs, and an affinity with the Ardeidae is suggested by the morphological characters of the Kagu. A larger species of the genus, the Lowland Kagu Rhynochetos orarius has been described from the fossil record.

When seen as a gruiform, it is generally considered related to the extinct adzebills Aptornithidae from New Zealand and the Sunbittern Eurypygidae from South America. Recent studies^{[citation needed]} do indicate that the Sunbittern is the closest living relative of the Kagu, and that they and mesites are not related to traditional gruiformes at all, but instead belong to the clade Metaves, which also includes the hoatzin, sandgrouse, pigeons, Caprimulgiformes, Apodiformes, tropicbirds, flamingos and grebes . All other traditional gruiformes belong to the clade that includes the rest of birds except ratites, tinamous, gamefowl and waterfowl.

[edit] Gallery

at Rivière Bleue Park

• Courting Kagu and Kagu chicks can be seen in NHNZ's documentary Islands:Splendid Isolation, some sequences are shown on the ArKive website (see below for link).

[edit] References

• BirdLife International (2004). Rhynochetos jubatus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is endangered and the criteria used
• Handbook of the Birds of the World, Volume Three, Hoatzin to Auks; de Hoyo, Elliot and Sargatal, Lynx Edicions, ISBN 84-87334-20-2
• Cook, Simon (1998) The Kagu Birding World 11(11):440-441

[edit] External links

• ARKive - images and movies of the kagu (Rhynochetos jubatus)
• Kagu videos on the Internet Bird Collection