Validation ofPachyornis australisOliver (Aves; Dinornithiformes), a medium sized moa from the South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

On the basis of new material, the crested moa, Pachyornis australis, which was synonymised with the heavy footed moa, P. elephantopus (Owen), by Cracraft in 1976, is re-established as a valid species and redescribed. From its distribution data I conclude that this bird primarily occurred in subalpine habitats; its remains are rare because subfossil deposits. in the subalpine zone are rare and restricted to karst regions. Extensive comparisons of bones of P. australis with those of P. elephantopus and Euryapteryx geranoides (Owen) are giyen to facilitate their correct identification. With the reinstatement of P. australis as a valid species, the number of moa taxa recognised in New Zealand is 11.