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Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    2009

  • Author(s)

    C.M. Miskelly; A.J. Baker

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    56, 3

  • Pagination

    113-123

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

Campbell Island snipe; Coenocorypha aucklandica; new subspecies; New Zealand Snipe; subantarctic snipe; taxonomy


Description of a new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from subantarctic Campbell Island, New Zealand

Notornis, 56 (3), 113-123

C.M. Miskelly; A.J. Baker (2009)

Article Type: Paper

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A new subspecies of Coenocorypha snipe from Campbell I is described and named. This bird was discovered on rat-free 19 ha Jacquemart I in 1997, and had probably been confined there as a breeding species for about 170 years. Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) were eradicated from 11,268 ha Campbell I in 2001, and snipe soon began to recolonise the main island from Jacquemart I 1 km offshore. Twelve adults and 5 chicks were caught on Campbell I in Jan 2006, and 1 nest was found. Genetic analysis of blood samples, and measurements and plumage descriptions from these birds revealed that they were best regarded as a subspecies of Coenocorypha aucklandica, a species here recognised as confined to the subantarctic Auckland, Antipodes and Campbell Is, and specifically distinct from the 2 other extant Coenocorypha snipes (Snares I snipe C. huegeli and Chatham I snipe C. pusilla).