Extreme reversed sexual size dimorphism in the extinct New Zealand moa Dinornis

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dc.contributor.authorBunce, M.
dc.contributor.authorWorthy, T.
dc.contributor.authorFord, T.
dc.contributor.authorHoppitt, W.
dc.contributor.authorWillerslev, E.
dc.contributor.authorDrummond, A.
dc.contributor.authorCooper, A.
dc.date.issued2003
dc.description© 2003 Nature Publishing Group
dc.description.abstractThe ratite moa (Aves; Dinornithiformes) were massive graviportal browsers weighing up to 250 kg (ref. 1) that dominated the New Zealand biota until their extinction approximately 500 yr ago. Despite an extensive Quaternary fossil record, moa taxonomy remains problematic and currently 11 species are recognized. Three Dinornis species were found throughout New Zealand and differed markedly in size (1-2 m height at back) and mass (from approximately 34 to 242 kg). Surprisingly, ancient mitochondrial DNA sequences show that the three species were genetically indistinguishable within each island, but formed separate North and South Island clades. Here we show, using the first sex-linked nuclear sequences from an extinct species, that on each island the three morphological forms actually represent just one species, whose size varied markedly according to sex and habitat. The largest females in this example of extreme reversed sexual size dimorphism were about 280% the weight and 150% the height of the largest males, which is unprecedented among birds and terrestrial mammals. The combination of molecular and palaeontological data highlights the difficulties of analysing extinct groups, even those with detailed fossil records.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityMichael Bunce, Trevor H. Worthy, Tom Ford, Will Hoppitt, Eske Willerslev, Alexei Drummond and Alan Cooper
dc.identifier.citationNature, 2003; 425(6954):172-175
dc.identifier.doi10.1038/nature01871
dc.identifier.issn0028-0836
dc.identifier.issn1476-4687
dc.identifier.orcidCooper, A. [0000-0002-7738-7851]
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2440/37010
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherNature Publishing Group
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1038/nature01871
dc.subjectBone and Bones
dc.subjectAnimals
dc.subjectPalaeognathae
dc.subjectBody Weight
dc.subjectDNA, Mitochondrial
dc.subjectBody Constitution
dc.subjectEcosystem
dc.subjectPhylogeny
dc.subjectSex Characteristics
dc.subjectGeography
dc.subjectTime Factors
dc.subjectFossils
dc.subjectMolecular Sequence Data
dc.subjectNew Zealand
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectMale
dc.subjectBiological Evolution
dc.subjectSex Determination Analysis
dc.titleExtreme reversed sexual size dimorphism in the extinct New Zealand moa Dinornis
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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