notornis

[prettygoodword]

notornis (noh-TAWR-nis) - n., a rare flightless New Zealand bird (Porphyrio hochstetteri, formerly Notornis mantelli) of the rail family.


Also called takahē, from the Maori. Native to South Island, thought to be extinct at the end of the 19th century but rediscovered in 1948 and still needing heavy conservation efforts. The name is from the former genus name (it was reorganized from a solo genus into the swamphens), from Greek notos, south + ornīs, bird.

---L.

Comments

[movingfinger.livejournal.com]

I've only ever seen or heard takahe; this name can't be much in use nowadays.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Some dictionaries just define it as takahe -- others, otoh, define takahe as this. Regardless, I suspect you're right (especially since the genus name it's from is no longer used).

---L.