Taxonomy Kangaroo Island emu

life drawings of emu kangaroo island

it discovered in 1802 matthew flinders , reported quite common around nepean bay. first bones of subspecies discovered in 1903 @ brecknells, sandhills on west side of cape gantheaume. there confusion regarding taxonomic status , geographic origin of kangaroo island emu, particularly respect relationship king island emu, transported france part of same expedition. expeditions logbooks failed state , when dwarf emu individuals collected. led both taxa being interpreted single taxon , originated kangaroo island. more recent finds of sub-fossil material , subsequent studies on king , kangaroo island emu confirm separate geographic origin , distinct morphology.

in 1907 book extinct birds, walter rothschild claimed vieillot s description referred mainland emu, , name d. ater therefore preoccupied. believing skin in muséum national d histoire naturelle of paris kangaroo island, made type specimen of new species dromaius peroni, named after french naturalist françois péron, main source of information bird in life. australian amateur ornithologist gregory mathews coined further names in 1910s, including new genus name, peronista, believed king , kangaroo island birds generically distinct mainland emu. later writers claimed subfossil remains found on king , kangaroo islands not discernibly different, , therefore belonged same taxon. in 1959, french ornithologist christian jouanin proposed none of skins kangaroo island. in 1990, jouanin , jean-christophe balouet demonstrated mounted skin in paris came king island, , @ least 1 live bird had been brought each island. scientific names given kangaroo island emu therefore based on specimens king island or otherwise invalid, leaving nameless. more recent finds of sub-fossil material , subsequent studies on king , kangaroo island emus, notably shane a. parker in 1984, confirmed separate geographic origin , distinct morphology. parker named kangaroo island bird dromaius baudinianus, after leader of french expedition. based on sub-fossil specimen kangaroo island, south australia. specimen sam b689ib, left tarsometatarsus, holotype.

1807 cartouche of small emu , other birds map of southeast australia , kangaroo island

the subspecies known historical observer accounts , bones, including sets deposited @ south australian museum. mounted skin can seen @ natural history museum of geneva in switzerland , skeleton exhibited in natural history museum of paris belong same individual. geneva specimen skin left of taxon.

it believed emu lived in interior forest.

the subspecies extinction has been attributed hunting , habitat clearance through burning.