---
title: "New Zealand’s extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater was similar to Fluttering and Hutton’s"
---

# New Zealand’s extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater was similar to Fluttering and Hutton’s

Alan Tennyson and Lara Shepherd ([Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa](https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/), Wellington, New Zealand) have published in the [*Journal of Ornithology*](https://link.springer.com/journal/10336) on the phylogenetic relationships of the extinct [Scarlett’s Shearwater](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/scarletts-shearwater)[*Puffinus spelaeus*](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/scarletts-shearwater), finding it was closely related to New Zealand's extant Fluttering *P. gavia* and Hutton’s *P. huttoni* Shearwaters.

 ![Scarletts Shearwater.painting](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Scarletts_Shearwater.painting.jpg)

 A depiction of the extinct Scarlett's Shearwater, painting by Paul Martinson (from Tennyson & Martinson 2006)

 The paper’s abstract follows:

 ”The global phylogenetic relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater (*Puffinus spelaeus*) from New Zealand are examined using ancient DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. The cytochrome b sequences obtained confirm the distinctiveness of this taxon. It forms a strongly-supported clade with two other New Zealand species, suggesting a radiation of similar-sized species in this region. Molecular dating suggests Pleistocene divergences within this clade.”

 ![Scarletts Shearwater](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Scarletts_Shearwater.jpg)

 Scarlett's Shearwater: holotype, near-complete skeleton, from [New Zealand Birds Online](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/)

 ![Scarletts Shearwater.cave](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Shearwaters/Scarletts_Shearwater.cave.jpg)

 A Scarlett's Shearwater skeleton found in a cave, from [New Zealand Birds Online](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/)

 **References:**

 Holdaway, R.N. & Worthy, T.H. 1994. A new fossil species of shearwater *Puffinus* from the late Quaternary of the South Island, New Zealand, and notes on the biogeography and evolution of the *Puffinus gavia* superspecies. *Emu* 94: 201-215.

 Michaux, B. 2013. [Scarlett’s Shearwater](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/scarletts-shearwater#bird-extracts). In Miskelly, C.M. (Ed.).  [*New Zealand Birds Online*](http://www.nzbirdsonline.org.nz/).

 Tennyson, A. & Martinson, P. 2006. [*Extinct Birds of New Zealand*](https://www.tepapa.govt.nz/about/te-papa-press/te-papa-press-natural-history/extinct-birds-new-zealand).  Wellington; Te Papa Press. 140 pp.

 Tennyson, A.J.D. & Shepherd, L.D. 2017.  DNA reveals the relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s Shearwater *Puffinus spelaeus* (Procellariiformes: Procellariidae).  [*Journal of Ornithology*158:379-384](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10336-016-1416-5).

 *John Cooper, ACAP Information Officer, 04 April 2017*