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Geographical variation in the bone length of Laughing Owls ( Sceloglaux albifacies )

  • Publication Type

    Journal Article

  • Publication Year

    1996

  • Author(s)

    B.J. Gill

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    43, 2

  • Pagination

    85-90

  • Article Type

    paper

Keywords

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Geographical variation in the bone length of Laughing Owls ( Sceloglaux albifacies )

Notornis, 43 (2), 85-90

B.J. Gill (1996)

Article Type: paper

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Measurements of the lengths of fossil bones show that North Island Laughing Owls were appreciably smaller than South Island ones. Humeri and tarsometatarsi from the North Island were on average significantly shorter than those from the South Island. The regressions of humerus length and tarsometatarsus length on latitude were significant, and length and latitude were positively correlated. The North Island samples were too small to establish whether variation was clinal, and in the meantime the continued recognition of North and South Island subspecies seems warranted. KEYWORDS: Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux, fossil bones, geographical variation, subspecies.