South Island Takahe

Domain: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Reptilia

Order: Gruiformes

Family: Rallidae

Genus: Porphyrio

Species: Porphyrio hochstetteri

Descendant: swamphens

Named by: Adolf Bernhard Meyer

Year Published: 1883

Size: 63 cm (25 inches) tall and weighs around 2.7 kg (5-6 pounds)

Lifespan: 

• Wild: 16–18 years 

• Captivity: 20–22 years

Activity: Diurnal 🌅

Thermoregulate: Endotherm

Type(s): 

• Reptiles (Archosaurs)

  • Birds (Rails)

Title(s): 

• none

Other Name(s)/Alias(es): 

• Notornis

Pantheon: 

• Terran/Gaian 🇺🇳

Time Period: Holocene

Alignment: Docile

Threat Level: ★★

Diet: Omnivorous 🥩🌿

Element(s): none

Inflict(s): none

Weakness(es): Fire 🔥, Water 🌊, Rock 🪨, Air 🌬️, Electric ⚡, Leaf 🌿, Ice ❄️, Metal 🔩, Dark 🌑, Light 🔆

Casualties: 

• none

Based On: 

• itself

Conservation Status: Endangered (EN) – IUCN Red List 

Takahē were well known to Māori, who travelled long distances to hunt them. The bird's name comes from the Māori verb takahi, to stamp or trample.

• Singular: takahe

• Plural: takahe (formal), takahes (informal, obselete)

The South Island takahē is the largest living member of the family Rallidae. Its overall length averages 63 cm (25 in) and its average weight is about 2.7 kg (6.0 lb) in males and 2.3 kg (5.1 lb) in females, ranging from 1.8–4.2 kg (4.0–9.3 lb). The lifespan of a takahē can range from 18 years in the wild or 22 in animal sanctuaries. Its standing height is around 50 cm (20 in). It is a stocky, powerful bird, with short strong legs and a massive bill which can deliver a painful bite to the unwary. Although a flightless bird, the takahē sometimes uses its reduced wings to help it clamber up slopes.

South Island takahē plumage, beaks, and legs show typical gallinule colours. Adult takahē plumage is silky, iridescent, and mostly dark-blue or navy-blue on the head, neck, and underside, peacock blue on the wings. The back and inner wings are teal and green, becoming olive-green at the tail, which is white underneath. Takahe have a bright scarlet frontal shield and "carmine beaks marbled with shades of red". Their scarlet legs were described as "crayfish-red" by one of the early rediscover scientists.

The extinct North Island takahē was taller and more slender. Pukeko can fly, and are smaller and more slender, with relatively longer legs, and black on the wings and back. Takahē only breed once a year, raising 1–2 chicks. Pairs will fiercely defend their territories. Families need a lot of space, with territories ranging between 4–100 ha, depending on the availability and quality of their food.

Takahē live for 16–18 years in the wild and 20–22 years at sanctuary sites.

The takahe's closest relative is the extinct North Island Takahe (Porphyrio mantelli). Another relative in New Zealand is the Pūkeko (Porphyrio melanotus), which is smaller, more slender, and can fly. The two forms of Takahe (North and South Island) are considered sister species, diverging about 1.5 million years ago.

That heavy, sharp bill is a perfect vegetation cutter and stripper. Their green color on their backs is actually perfect camouflage in surrounding areas like grasslands or forests. Despite not having wings, takahē can sprint quickly on the ground thanks to their powerful legs and big feet, which are optimized for swift movement on grasslands. The distinctive slow, deliberate pace of these swamphens is well-known. Takahē are mostly terrestrial and do not require aquatic skills to survive in alpine grasslands, despite being members of the rail family, many of which can swim and dive. The takahe's unique way of life does not depend on swimming, although the rail family as a whole can.

Coming soon

Takahē live in pairs or small family groups. Young stay with parents until just before the next breeding season, or stay for a second year. Unusual cases of breeding trios or greater (two females laying) have been observed. Pairs defend their breeding territory by calling, or fighting if necessary, returning to the same areas each year. Fiordland takahē feed mainly on leaf bases of tussock grasses (Chionochloa spp). Sedges (Uncinia spp, Carex coriacea), rushes (Juncus spp) and Aciphylla spp are sometimes taken. Smaller grasses are grazed from the tips down, this being the staple on islands and lowland reserves. When available, grass seeds are stripped from the stem while still attached. In Fiordland winter (forest) habitat, alternative carbohydrate is found by grubbing starchy rhizomes of a fern Hypolepis millefolium and the rhizomes of the sedge Carex coriacea. In other sites the diet does not vary as much seasonally - pasture grasses are available all year round. Takahē opportunistically take a protein in the form of large insects (moths, beetles, weta), or very rarely will take ducklings or lizards.

Mammalian predators from Great Britain and Japanese Empire are the biggest threat to takahē. In 2007, there was a stoat plague that halved the takahē popluation in the Murchison Mountains. Deer love to browse on the same tussock species as takahē do. Unfortunately, this affects tussock growth and can impact on takahē food and habitat.

Reproduction

• Pairing: They are monogamous and form lifelong pair bonds, confirmed through courtship rituals like duetting and neck-pecking.

• Nesting: They build large, bulky, bowl-shaped nests of tussock grass and rushes, often under bushes or in wetland areas.

• Clutch: The female lays 1 to 3 cream-colored eggs with splotches.

• Parental Care: Both parents share incubation for about 30 days. The chicks are precocial (relatively mature and mobile upon hatching) and remain with their parents for up to a year. Only about one chick survives to adulthood on average.

While swamphens can be approachable and even become accustomed to human presence, they are generally not considered "friendly" in the way a domestic pet might be, as they are wild birds with their own behaviors and territories.

Particularly in their mating grounds, takahe are fiercely territorial. A couple will vigorously protect a sizable area (5 to 60 hectares). When they are separated from their mate, they make a series of long, deep notes that are characterized as sounding like a donkey's braying. They also make a faint hooting contact call. Additionally, they sound an alert with a loud screech or a muted boom. In their isolated environments, takahe are typically shy of people. They can, however, grow used to humans in conservation reserves and are frequently adored by tourists. There is no historical record of a household pet interacting amicably with people.

Threats

• Introduced Predators: The biggest threat to eggs and chicks comes from introduced mammalian predators like stoats (Mustela erminea). Kiore (Pacific rats), Kuri (Polynesian and foreign dogs), feral cats, and possibly tanuki (raccoon dogs) are also threats.

• Habitat Loss & Competition: Their original lowland swamp habitat was lost to human settlement. In the alpine areas, they faced severe competition for their specialized food source (tussock grass) from introduced red deer.

• Hunting: Māori, European, and Asian settlers hunted the takahe for food, which contributed to its initial decline.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Endangered (EN)

Conservation Efforts

• Predator Control: Extensive trapping networks to control stoats and other pests, particularly in mainland sites.

• Habitat Management: Control of red deer to allow tussock grasslands to recover.

• Captive Breeding and Translocation: Breeding and rearing in captivity (e.g., Burwood Bush) and translocation to safe, predator-free offshore islands and mainland sanctuaries (e.g., Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti, and Motutapu Islands).

• Innovative Rearing: Use of techniques like artificial incubation and hand-rearing of chicks (sometimes using puppets) to boost survival rates.

South Island takahē originally occurred throughout the South Island, Aotearoa. Hunting, predation and habitat loss resulted in a remnant population in the mountains of Fiordland. The modern conservation programme has set up additional populations; a captive breeding and rearing facility at Burwood Bush near Te Anau, plus free-ranging populations on wildlife reserves in the North and South Island and several offshore islands including Tiritiri Matangi and Motutapu (Hauraki Gulf), Kapiti and Mana (Wellington) and Maud (Marlborough Sounds).

The South Island takahē population in 2011-12 was approximately 276 birds, with ~110 in Fiordland, ~107 at restoration sites, 11 at captive display sites, and 48 at the captive breeding site. Protecting takahē and all of Aotearoa’s wildlife calls for active and widespread predator eradication.

• Movement Pattern: Not a Migrant

• Individual Type: Solo

• Population Trend: Increased

• Population: 50-249

• Locomotion: Terrestrial

• Habitat: Taiga; Montane Grasslands and Shrublands; Temperate Coniferous Forests; Temperate Broadleaf and Mixed Forests; Temperate Deciduous Forests; Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Subtropical Coniferous Forests; Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Subtropical Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands; Salt Flats; Stone Forest; Tropical Coniferous Forests; Tropical Moist Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Dry Broadleaf Forests; Tropical Grasslands; Tropical Savannas and Shrublands; Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands, and Scrub; Mushroom Forests; Mushroom Fields; Deserts and Xeric Shrublands; Badlands; Flooded Grasslands and Savannas; Swamp; Bayous/Billabongs; Riparian; Wetland; Mangrove Forest; Cold Bamboo Forests; Tropical Bamboo Forests; Air-breathing Coral Reefs; Graveyard Vale; Mountain; Warm Ghost Town; Cold Ghost Town; Ruined Skyscraper.

• Earth: 

  • Extant (Resident): New Zealand

• Berbania/Hirawhassa: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Reinachos/Ityosel: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Thatrollwa/Delphia: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Sawintir/Everrealm: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Agarathos: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

• Jotunheim: 

  • Extant: none

  • Extinct: none

Coming soon

Only two more South Island takahē were collected by Europeans in the 19th century. One was caught by a rabbiter's dog on the eastern side of Lake Te Anau in 1879. It was bought by what is now the State Museum of Zoology, Dresden, for £105, and destroyed during the bombing of Dresden in World War II. Another takahē was caught by another dog, also on the shore of Lake Te Anau, on 7 August 1898; the dog, named 'Rough', was owned by musterer Jack Ross. Ross tried to revive the female takahē, but it died, and he delivered it to curator William Benham at Otago Museum. In excellent condition, it was purchased by the New Zealand government for £250 and was put on display; for many years it was the only mounted specimen in New Zealand, and the only takahē on display anywhere in the world.

Living South Island takahē were rediscovered in an expedition led by Invercargill-based physician Geoffrey Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains, on 20 November 1948. The expedition started when footprints of an unknown bird were found near Lake Te Anau. Two takahē were caught but returned to the wild after photos were taken of the rediscovered bird.

Takahē have special cultural, spiritual and traditional significance to Ngāi Tahu, the iwi (Māori tribe) of most of New Zealand’s South Island. Ngāi Tahu value takahē as a taonga (treasure) and they continue to act as kaitiaki (guardians) of the takahē by working with DOC to protect this precious species. This species was considered as good fortune for Japanese people and Okinawans, despite being from Maori cultures.

Past and Present Incidents - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a 

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

The Recollections of Queen Arianna - Individuals

• Terran/Gaian

  • n/a

• Berbanian/Hirawhassan

  • n/a

• Reinachos/Ityoselese

  • n/a

• Delphian/Thatrollwan

  • n/a

• Sawintiran

  • n/a

• Jotunheim

  • n/a

See also: none

Earth

• Arabic:: تاكاهي

• Bulgarian: Южно такахе

• Brezhoneg: Takahe

• Català: Takahe

• Čeština: Slípka takahe

• Dansk: Sydlig takahe

• Deutsch: Südinseltakahe

• English: Takahe

• Español: Calamón takahe

• Farsi: تاکاهی

• Suomi: Takahe

• Français: Talève takahé

• Hebrew: טאקאהה

• Magyar: Takahe

• Bahasa Indonesia: Takahe

• Nihongo: タカヘ

• Hangul: 타카헤

• Māori: Takahē

• Malayalam: റ്റക്കായി

• Nederlands: Zuidereilandtakahe

• Norsk: Takahe

• Polski: Takahe południowy

• Punjabi: ٹاکاہی

• Português: Takahe

• Russian: Такахе

• Svenska: Takahe

• Tagalog: Takahe

• Ukrainian: Такахе

• Zhongguo: 南秧雞

• Coming soon

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takah%C4%93

• https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Porphyrio_hochstetteri

• https://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/south-island-takahe

• https://www.aucklandzoo.co.nz/animals/takahe

• https://www.visitzealandia.com/About/Wildlife/Birds/Takah%C4%93

• https://www.deviantart.com/ognimdo2002/art/Takahe-947296423