Late Holocene extinction of Finsch's duck (Chenonetta finschi), an endemic, possibly flightless, New Zealand duck

Abstract

Finsch's duck (Chenonetta finschi), an extinct, possibly flightless New Zealand endemic, was widely distributed and apparently abundant immediately before human settlement of New Zealand, but its bones have rarely been identified in archaeological sites. Its extinction has been variously attributed to habitat changes, predation by the introduced Pacific rat (Rattus exulans), and human predation. Discriminating between possible causes of its extinction hinges on determining the relative timing of phases of the extinction process and the arrival of rats and humans. Methodological problems of determining the time of extinction of fossil species are reviewed. Bayesian statistical analysis of a series of accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C ages on gelatin from Finsch's duck bones from non‐cultural deposits suggests that the species began to decline before widespread Polynesian settlement and that it was much reduced in range and numbers by the time extensive human predation and habitat alteration began. Possible causes of its extinction after Polynesian settlement are discussed.

Keywords:

• Finsch's duck
• Chenonetta finschi
• extinction
• Rattus exulans
• predation

Notes

Palaecol Research, P.O. Box 16 569, Christchurch, New Zealand. Email: [email protected]

Centre for Archaeological Research, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92 109, Auckland, New Zealand.

Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, P.O. Box 31 312, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.