North Island little spotted kiwi explained

The North Island little spotted kiwi or North Island little grey kiwi (Apteryx owenii iredalei) is an extinct subspecies of the little spotted kiwi that was native to the North Island, New Zealand.^[1] It was described by Gregory Mathews in 1935. Most subsequent authors do not recognise it or any other subspecies of Apteryx owenii.^[2]

The North Island little spotted kiwi went extinct sometime in the late 19th century for unknown reasons; most likely from introduced invasive species such as stoats, feral cats, and other related species, or from human activity in the region. Two specimens were collected in the 1880s, being the only known remnants left.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Little Spotted kiwi . 19 May 2023 . Save the Kiwi . en-NZ.
2. Book: Herbert . John . Daugherty . Charles H. . 2002 . Genetic variation, systematics and management of kiwi (Apteryx spp.) . https://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/science-and-technical/ir191a.pdf . Overmars . Fred . Some Early 1990s Studies in Kiwi . New Zealand Department of Conservation . 31 . 0-478-22194-0 . 20 May 2023.
3. Jolly . J.N. . Colbourne . R.M. . June 1991 . Translocations of the little spotted kiwi (Apteryx owenii) between offshore islands of New Zealand . Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand . en . 21 . 2 . 143–149 . 10.1080/03036758.1991.10431402 . 1991JRSNZ..21..143J . 0303-6758. free .