Porphyrio hochstetteri
southern takahe

South Island takahe are endemic to New Zealand's South Island. Following conservation and reintroduction efforts South Island takahe have been introduced to the islands of Tiritiri Matangi, Kapiti, Mana, Maud, and Rarotoka, off the coast of New Zealand's South Island. (Wallace, 2002)

Mainland populations can be found in alpine tussocks grasslands and sub-alpine shrublands. Island populations live in modified grasslands. (Benstead, McClellan, and Pilgrim, 2007)

South Island takahe are large, flightless rails. South Island takahe are very colorful, with deep to peacock-blue heads, breasts, necks, and shoulders. The wings and back are olive-green and blue. The bill is large and red, as is the shield. South Island takahe also have large, powerful, red legs and feet. Young South Island takahe are deep blue to black at hatching but quickly take on the coloration of adults. There is little sexual dimorphism, although males average slightly larger in mass. (Benstead, McClellan, and Pilgrim, 2007)

Very little is known about South Island takahe lifespan in the wild. Sources estimate they can live between 14 and 20 years in the wild. In captivity South Island takahe have lived up to 20 years. ("Kiwi Conservation Club", 2005)

South Island takahe are highly territorial, most confrontations occur during incubation. They are active during the day. (Ryan, 1997)

Home Range

Home ranges of South Island takahe vary in size from 1.2 to 4.9 ha., densities are highest in moist lowland habitats. (Ryan, 1997)

There is little available information on communication of Porphyrio hochstetteri at this time. Visual and tactile cues are used in mating.

South Island takahe primarily consume the leaf bases and seeds of native tussock grasses, including broad leafed snow tussock (Chionochloa rigida), mid-ribbed snow tussock (Chionochloa pallens) and curled snow tussock (Chionochloa crassiuscula). They occasionally take insects as well, especially when raising young. They also eat rhizomes of native ferns. ("Kiwi Conservation Club", 2005)

South Island takahe do not have any native predators. Populations have declined as a result of anthropogenic changes such as habitat destruction and modification, hunting, and the introduction of mammalian predators and competitors, including dogs, red deer, and stoats. (Baber and Craig, 2003; Jamieson and Ryan, 2000)

South Island takahe numbers are exceptionally low, so their ecosystem impacts are very small. They do impact vegetation communities through their grazing.

There are no known adverse effects of Porphyrio hochstetteri on humans.

South Island takahe represent unique adaptation towards flightlessness in island birds, especially rails. Because of their uniqueness and rarity, they support ecotourism of people interested in viewing them in introduced populations on offshore islands.

South Island takahe were thought to be extinct, with the last known specimens collected in 1898. However, careful surveys rediscovered this bird species in 1948 in the Murchison Mountains of South Island. South Island takahe are listed as endangered on the IUCN redlist. They have been the focus of major conservation and reintroduction efforts. South Island takahe populations have been established on 4 offshore islands where there are no invasive predators. Previously, hunting, loss of habitat, and introduced predators were the major factors contributing to population decline. Loss of habitat and introduced predators are still major factors, but additionally South Island takahe are threatened by lack of genetic diversity and the low fertility of these birds. (Baillie and Groombridge, 2007; Wallace, 2002)

South Island takahe was formerly recognized as Porphyrio mantelli. It was later split into P. mantelli (extinct) and P. hochstetteri. This species is also commonly called "southern takahe." The extinct close relative, P. mantelli is also known as "North Island takahe." (Baillie and Groombridge, 2007)