English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Background  The New Zealand quail,  Coturnix novaezealandiae , was widespread throughout New Zealand until its rapid extinction in the 1870's. To date, confusion continues to exist concerning the identity of  C. novaezealandiae  and its phylogenetic relationship to  Coturnix  species in neighbouring Australia, two of which,  C. ypsilophora  and  C. pectoralis , were introduced into New Zealand as game birds. The Australian brown quail,  C. ypsilophora , was the only species thought to establish with current populations distributed mainly in the northern part of the North Island of New Zealand. Owing to the similarities between  C. ypsilophora ,  C. pectoralis , and  C. novaezealandiae , uncertainty has arisen over whether the New Zealand quail is indeed extinct, with suggestions that remnant populations of  C. novaezealandiae  may have survived on offshore islands.    Methodology/Principal Findings  Using fresh and historical samples of  Coturnix sp . from New Zealand and Australia, DNA analysis of selected mitochondrial regions was carried out to determine phylogenetic relationships and species status. Results show that  Coturnix sp . specimens from the New Zealand mainland and offshore island Tiritiri Matangi are not the New Zealand quail but are genetically identical to  C. ypsilophora  from Australia and can be classified as the same species. Furthermore,  cytochrome b  and  COI  barcoding analysis of the New Zealand quail and Australia's  C. pectoralis , often confused in museum collections, show that they are indeed separate species that diverged approximately 5 million years ago (mya). Gross morphological analysis of these birds suggests a parallel loss of sustained flight with very little change in other phenotypic characters such as plumage or skeletal structure.    Conclusion/Significance  Ancient DNA has proved invaluable for the detailed analysis and identification of extinct and morphologically cryptic taxa such as that of quail and can provide insights into the timing of evolutionary changes that influence morphology.

Ancient DNA Resolves Identity and Phylogeny of New Zealand's Extinct and Living Quail (Coturnix sp.)