Kākāpō Ancestor Fossil Discovery: Waitomo Cave Reveals Million-Year-Old New Species in Alcheringa Journal

Unearthing a Lost World in Moa Eggshell Cave

In the limestone karst landscapes near the famous Waitomo Caves on New Zealand's North Island, a team of palaeontologists has uncovered what they describe as a 'lost world' – a treasure trove of fossils dating back approximately one million years to the Early Pleistocene epoch. 61 19 This discovery at Moa Eggshell Cave represents the first substantial Early Pleistocene terrestrial vertebrate fauna from a cave site in Aotearoa New Zealand, filling a critical 15-million-year gap in the fossil record following earlier Miocene finds at St Bathans in Central Otago. 60

The site's unique preservation comes from its position between two volcanic ash layers: the 1.55 million-year-old Ngaroma tephra and the 1 million-year-old Kidnappers tephra from a massive supereruption that blanketed much of the North Island in thick ash. A 535,000-year-old speleothem date caps the deposit, providing precise chronological bracketing. 83 These fossils offer a snapshot of an ancient ecosystem just before dramatic environmental shifts, revealing birds and frogs that thrived in prehistoric forests now long transformed.

Strigops insulaborealis: The Kākāpō's Ancient Ancestor

Among the standout discoveries is a new species of parrot, Strigops insulaborealis sp. nov., belonging to the Strigopidae family – the same as the modern kākāpō (Strigops habroptilus), New Zealand's critically endangered, flightless, nocturnal parrot. 48 This fossil relative, named for its island-borne habitat ('insula' for island, 'borealis' for northern), challenges assumptions about the kākāpō's evolutionary history. Preliminary analysis of the leg bones indicates weaker hindlimbs compared to the robust, climbing-adapted legs of today's kākāpō, suggesting S. insulaborealis may have retained some flight capability, making it a better flyer but poorer climber. 29

Holotype specimens include tarsometatarsi and other postcranial elements, distinct from the modern species in size and proportions. This find implies the Strigops lineage underwent significant adaptations post-Pleistocene, possibly losing flight amid habitat changes and predator pressures long before human arrival. 83

The Multidisciplinary Research Team Behind the Publication

The study, published online on January 26, 2026, in Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology, unites experts from across Australasia. 58 Lead author Associate Professor Trevor H. Worthy from Flinders University's Palaeontology Laboratory spearheaded the taxonomic descriptions. Co-author R. Paul Scofield, Senior Curator of Natural History at Canterbury Museum, provided curatorial expertise. New Zealand universities played pivotal roles: Simon J. Barker from Victoria University of Wellington contributed volcanological context, while Joel A. Baker from the University of Auckland analyzed tephra layers. 61

• Trevor H. Worthy (Flinders University) – Lead palaeontologist and describer of new species.
• R. Paul Scofield (Canterbury Museum) – Avifauna specialist.
• Sneha Suresh – Fossil preparation.
• Simon J. Barker (Victoria University of Wellington) – Tephrochronology.
• Colin J. N. Wilson, Paul W. Williams, Joel A. Baker (University of Auckland) – Volcanic dating.

This collaboration highlights how higher education institutions in New Zealand drive cutting-edge research. For aspiring researchers, opportunities abound in palaeontology programs at institutions like the University of Otago's Department of Geology, which offers specialized courses and positions such as Lecturer in Paleontology.Explore research jobs in these fields via platforms connecting academics with universities.

A Diverse Fauna: 12 Birds and 4 Frog Species

Beyond the kākāpō ancestor, the assemblage includes 12 bird taxa and four frog species from the endemic Leiopelmatidae family (Leiopelma spp.), primitive frogs unique to New Zealand. Another new species, Porphyrio claytongreenei sp. nov. (Rallidae), represents an extinct rail akin to the takahē. A phabine pigeon, first recorded in NZ, links to Australian bronzewing pigeons, suggesting historical faunal exchanges. 83

These ground-dwelling taxa likely accumulated via predation or natural trap, preserved in cave sediments. The diversity underscores a shrubland-forest ecosystem vulnerable to environmental upheaval.

Volcanic Dating and the Kidnappers Supereruption

Dating relied on tephrochronology – the study of volcanic ash layers (tephra) as time markers. The Ngaroma Formation ash (1.55 Ma) underlies the fossils, while Kidnappers tephra (1 Ma) overlays them, pinpointing deposition around the supereruption. This event's pyroclastic flows and ashfall likely devastated local wildlife, contributing to turnover. 59

Such methods exemplify interdisciplinary science at NZ universities like Auckland and Victoria, where geologists train in advanced techniques essential for precise palaeo-reconstructions.

Avifaunal Turnover: Natural Extinctions Pre-Human Arrival

The fossils reveal 33-50% species turnover in the avifauna over the last million years, independent of humans. Glacial-interglacial cycles intensified, shifting forests to shrublands, while volcanism like Kidnappers reset populations. This 'natural reset' fostered diversification, contrasting the Holocene stability shattered only by Polynesian arrival ~750 years ago. 60

Lead author Trevor Worthy notes: 'This is a newly recognised avifauna for New Zealand, one that was replaced by the one humans encountered a million years later.' Paul Scofield adds: 'This isn’t a missing chapter... it’s a missing volume.' 61

Evolutionary Implications for the Kākāpō Lineage

Modern kākāpō, with ~250 individuals, face conservation challenges from habitat loss and predators. The S. insulaborealis fossil suggests ancestors were more volant, adapting to flightlessness post-Pleistocene amid isolation and mammalian absence (until humans). Universities like Auckland contribute to genomic and fertility research aiding recovery. 65

This baseline informs models predicting climate resilience, vital for postdoctoral research roles in conservation biology.

New Zealand Universities Leading Palaeontology Research

NZ higher education excels in palaeontology, with Victoria University of Wellington's volcanology and University of Auckland's geochronology powering this study. The University of Otago's Geology Department boasts active paleontology research and job openings like Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Paleontology/Paleoecology. 76 Canterbury Museum collaborates closely with universities, curating national collections.

• Victoria University of Wellington: Tephrochronology expertise.
• University of Auckland: Volcanic ash analysis.
• University of Otago: Vertebrate palaeontology programs.

Prospective academics can find research assistant jobs and postdoc positions advancing such discoveries.

Careers in Palaeontology and Research Publications

This Alcheringa publication exemplifies high-impact research from NZ academia. Careers span curation, fieldwork, and taxonomy, with demand for PhD holders in Earth sciences. Platforms like AcademicJobs list university jobs in NZ, including /nz for local opportunities. 73

Build your CV with tips from How to Write a Winning Academic CV.

Future Prospects: More Discoveries and Conservation Ties

Ongoing excavations at Waitomo karst promise further insights. Linking ancient turnover to modern threats, this informs kākāpō management by DOC and universities. For researchers, it's a call to action – check Rate My Professor for mentors, higher ed jobs, and career advice. Explore NZ academic opportunities today.