Turtle-jawed moa-nalo

The turtle-jawed moa-nalo (Chelychelynechen quassus), also formerly referred to as the large Kauai goose, is a species of moa-nalo, one of a group of extinct, flightless, large goose-like ducks, which evolved in the Hawaiian Islands of the North Pacific Ocean. It was described in 1991 from subfossil material collected in 1976 by Storrs Olson from the calcareous Makawehi dunes on the south-eastern coast of the island of Kauai.[1] Its remains have also been found at the nearby Makauwahi Cave site.[2]

Turtle-jawed moa-nalo
Temporal range: Holocene
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Reconstruction of species’ appearance
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae
Genus: †Chelychelynechen
Olson & James, 1991[1]
Species:
†C. quassus
Binomial name
†Chelychelynechen quassus
Olson & James 1991

Etymology

The generic name Chelychelynechen comes from the Greek chelys (“turtle”), chelyne (“lip” or “jaw”), with chen (“goose”), referring to the distinctly turtle-like appearance and structure of the beak. The specific epithet is from the Latin quassus (“broken” or “shattered”), alluding to the fragmentary condition of the type material.[1]

Description

Apart from the head, the bird was similar to other moa-nalo species, with robust legs and reduced, non-functional wings. The main distinguishing feature was the remarkable beak which had a rostrum almost as high as it was long, with a broad palatal surface, and with nostrils oriented almost vertically rather than horizontally. The structure of this feeding apparatus appears convergent on that of tortoises and indicates adaptation to a diet of plants.[1]

Speculative reconstruction of head
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References
  1. Olson, Storrs L.; James, Helen F. (1991). "Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part I. Non-Passeriformes" (PDF). Ornithological Monographs. 45: 32–35. doi:10.2307/40166794.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "Hawaiian Cave Reveals Ancient Secrets". David A. Burney and Lida Pigott Burney. Live Science. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
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