Ancient New Zealand

An island cave has revealed 1-million-year-old remnants of a lost world. Fossils found in a cave on New Zealand’s North Island represent 12 ancient bird species (several previously unknown) and four frog species from more than a million years ago. They paint a picture of an ancient world drastically different than it does today. It also fills a gap in the patterns of extinction the preceded human arrival only 750 years ago.

The fossils were found between 2 layers of volcanic ash, each from a different major eruption. The first eruption was 1.55 million years ago, and the second was 1 million years ago. Many species were already extinct when humans arrived. It is estimated that 33 to 50 percent of all species on the island went extinct during the million years before humans arrived. This was likely caused by rapid climate shifts and cataclysmic volcanic eruptions.

The extinction of New Zealand’s bird was primarily blamed on human arrival, but this study shows that natural forces were already sculpting their unique wildlife.

The fossil finds included a new species of parrot, Strigops insulaborealis. This an ancient relative of the Kākāpō, which is a large flightless parrot known for its heft. This ancestor may have been able to fly, but it had weaker legs than its modern relative, so it wasn’t the skilled climber that the Kākāpō is. More research is needed to be sure.

Researchers also found an ancestor of the modern Takahe, opening further study into that bird. Also, fossils of an extinct pigeon species closely related to the Australian bronzewing pigeons are exciting.

Previous excavations revealed life in New Zealand between 20 and 16 million years ago. These new discoveries give evidence of life from 15 to 1 million years ago. New Zealand’s ancient history wasn’t missing a chapter; it was missing an entire volume.

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/scientists-explored-an-island-cave-and-found-1-million-year-old-remnants-of-a-lost-world/ar-AA1VAauK?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=69fb78aa6b964b68a89eac64047e6060&ei=146