Rowi, Okarito brown kiwi, Okarito kiwi, Rowi, Okarito brown kiwi
The Okarito kiwi (Apteryx rowi ), also known as the rowi or Okarito brown kiwi, is a member of the kiwi family Apterygidae, described as new to science in 2003. The species is part of the brown kiwi complex, and is morphologically very similar to other members of that complex. It is found in a restricted area of the Ōkārito forest on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, and has a population of only about 600 birds.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
Vermivore (from Latin vermi, meaning "worm" and vorare, "to devour") is a zoological term for animals that eat worms (including annelids, nematodes...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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Flightless birdFlightless birds are birds that through evolution lost the ability to fly. There are over 60 extant species including the well known ratites (ostri...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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Generally solitaryGenerally solitary animals are those animals that spend their time separately but will gather at foraging areas or sleep in the same location or sh...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withOkarito kiwi are flightless birds from New Zealand. They are greyish in color, often with white patches around the face. These birds are adapted to live on the ground and have powerful legs and long curved bills. Nostrils located on the tip of the bill provide kiwi with an acute sense of smell; this helps the birds to find food as they have very poor eyesight.
Okarito kiwi are found on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. There these birds live in native Okarito forest.
Okarito kiwi are usually solitary and spend time in pairs only during the breeding season. They are very territorial and defend their territories with calls, chases, and may even fight with intruders. During the day, Okarito kiwi rest in their burrows, hollow log, or under thick vegetation. At night, they come out to feed. Kiwi feed by walking slowly around tapping the ground and use their scenting skills or feel vibrations caused by the movement of their prey. To communicate with each other, these birds use growls, hisses, and bill snapping.
Okarito kiwi are carnivores and feed on earthworms, larvae of beetles, moths, cicadas, spiders, crickets, and freshwater crayfish. They may also occasionally eat fallen fruit and leaves.
Okarito kiwi are monogamous and form pairs for life. They usually breed between June and February and may produce two clutches per year. The female lays 1 egg in a nest located in the burrow and both the male and the female incubate it for 65 to 90 days. The egg is very large, as it weighs 20% of the female's weight (as in all kiwi). The chick is hatched fully feathered and is able to leave the nest to feed itself. After 2-7 weeks the young will become independent but remain with the parents for 4-5 years.
The main threats to Okarito kiwi include habitat loss and predation by introduced stoats. They also suffer from road collisions and from the predation of cats, dogs and introduced possums, which often enter burrows to steal eggs and chicks.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total Okarito kiwi population size is around 350-400 mature individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) but its numbers today are increasing.
