Pachyplichas

Pachyplichas is a genus containing two extinct species of New Zealand wren, a family of small birds endemic to New Zealand.

Pachyplichas
Temporal range: Late Pleistocene-Holocene
Pachyplichas yaldwyni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Acanthisittidae
Genus: Pachyplichas
Millener, 1988
Species

2, see text

Species

Description

The stout-legged wrens formed a species pair. They had reduced wings and robust legs indicating that they were adapted to a terrestrial existence and were either flightless or nearly so.[1] Genetic evidence has indicated that Pachyplichas is nested within Xenicus, and stout legged wrens must have evolved from a gracile legged ancestor. A cladogram is given below.[2]

Acanthisittidae

Traversia

Kuiornis

Acanthisitta

Xenicus longipes

Xenicus gilviventris

Pachyplichas

References

Notes

  1. Millener (1988).
  2. Mitchell, Kieren J.; Wood, Jamie R.; Llamas, Bastien; McLenachan, Patricia A.; Kardailsky, Olga; Scofield, R. Paul; Worthy, Trevor H.; Cooper, Alan (September 2016). "Ancient mitochondrial genomes clarify the evolutionary history of New Zealand's enigmatic acanthisittid wrens". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 102: 295–304. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.038. PMID 27261250.

Sources

  • Millener, P.R. (1988). "Contributions to New Zealand's Late Quaternary avifauna. 1: Pachyplichas, a new genus of wren (Aves: Acanthisittidae), with two new species". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 18 (4): 383–406. doi:10.1080/03036758.1988.10426464.


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