Geographical variation in the bone length of Laughing Owls ( Sceloglaux albifacies ) | Notornis and Birds New Zealand

[摘要] Measurements of the lengths of fossil bones show that North Island Laughing Owls were appreciably smaller than South Island ones. Humeri and tarsometatarsi from the North Island were on average significantly shorter than those from the South Island. The regressions of humerus length and tarsometatarsus length on latitude were significant, and length and latitude were positively correlated. The North Island samples were too small to establish whether variation was clinal, and in the meantime the continued recognition of North and South Island subspecies seems warranted. KEYWORDS: Laughing Owl, Sceloglaux, fossil bones, geographical variation, subspecies.

[学科分类] 动物科学

[关键词] Bird counts;conspicuousness;New Zealand forest;singing