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Articles by Ruby Abraham
Ghost shark in volcano caught on camera
A rare sighting has been made by one of our hosts Perry Hyde, and the rest of the crew of the JOIDES Resolution. While collecting hard-rock core samples from an active submarine volcano in the Kermadec Arc, a ghost shark never before seen in this area, was caught on camera 1,200 metres under the surface. Perry talks about the discovery and asks fish expert Andrew Stuart some burning ghost shark questions.
Te ao Māori: The synergy between women and the land
Iwi development manager Migoto Eria looks at the relationship between Heretaunga chief Hēnare Tōmoana and his wife Ākenehi Pātoka, who signed the suffrage petition in 1893, and reflects on the synergy between wahine (women) and whenua (land). ‘…Through the courage of my wife Ākenehi … the lands have been retained…’ These were the kupu (words) of Ngāi Te Whatu-i-Āpiti rangatira Hēnare Tōmoana regarding his wife Ākenehi in 1883.
The mystery of the giant hoho weevils of Rangatira Island
Te Papa curator Colin Miskelly has recently returned from volunteering for the Department of Conservation on the Chatham Islands. His inordinate fondness for weevils led to some new discoveries about one of Rangatira Island’s more cryptic yet spectacular inhabitants.
The littlest snipe
Te Papa bird expert Colin Miskelly first visited Rangatira Island Nature Reserve in the Chatham Islands as an undergraduate student studying snipe in 1983. He recently returned to the island as a volunteer for the Department of Conservation, and was delighted to renew acquaintance with one of his favourite birds. The first Chatham Island snipe known to science was collected by the Stewart Island-based naturalist Charles Traill in 1868.
Who’s living in Bush City? A citizen science investigation
Over 7–9 April, Te Papa is helping to host New Zealand’s first symposium dedicated to citizen science – the involvement of the community in scientific research. There are presentations on Monday 9 April, and various practical workshops during the preceding weekend. One of the workshops is a bioblitz of Te Papa’s Bush City – Botany Curator Leon Perrie tells us more. We’re having a “bioblitz” of Bush City, 1–4 pm Sunday 8 April, to see what insects, birds, fungi, and plants we can find.
12,000 images on New Zealand Birds Online - with help from Hungary
The 12,000th image loaded on New Zealand Birds Online was of a cute fluffy baby goose, taken in Hungary. Bird expert Colin Miskelly explains how this image ended up on a New Zealand website. New Zealand Birds Online provides information on all bird species on the New Zealand list, regardless of whether they are native, introduced, vagrant from other countries, living, extinct, or fossilised. Many of our bird species are shared with, or predominantly found in, other countries.
The biting truth about white-tailed spiders
White-tails are blamed for lots of nasty symptoms, and have developed something of a bad reputation, but is it deserved? Bug expert Phil Sirvid sorts fact from fiction. A study of 130 verified white-tail bites from Australia found they were always very painful, although the authors did not find much in the way of other effects beyond local redness and swelling.
Further flax weevil finds from farthest Fiordland
Until 2016, flax weevils (large flightless protected beetles) were known from a single island in Fiordland. Recent surveys by Te Papa and Department of Conservation staff have now found evidence of them on a further 56 Fiordland islands. Here, Te Papa scientist Dr Colin Miskelly reports on the latest findings from remote southern Fiordland. Weevils as a whole get a lot of bad press as crop pests or for spoiling stored cereal-based foods (e.g. flour, oatmeal, and muesli).
A new fungus for New Zealand discovered in Wellington’s Mount Vic
You don’t have to be in the wilderness to make biodiversity discoveries. One of our scientists, Lara Shepherd, recently made an exciting find whilst walking home from work. Earlier this year I was walking through Wellington’s Mount Victoria when I saw a very odd looking mushroom. It looked a bit like a like a puffball on a very long stalk and its spores covered the surface of the cap, rather than occurring underneath in gills.
Two new birds for New Zealand - Herald petrel and red-footed booby
Finding a new bird species for their country of residence is the holy grail for many birdwatchers – and a thrill that few get to experience. Over the last decade, new species have been detected in New Zealand at an average rate of one every 15 months. The finding of two new bird species within 2 days by the same team of observers was unprecedented – but that is what happened about 6 months ago. Seabirds returning to Meyer Islet (one of the Herald Islets, Kermadec Islands).
Bruce Marshall and the volcanic vent mussel
Bruce Marshall is a self-taught malacologist (shell expert) who has worked at Te Papa, and the previous National Museum, since 1976. As collection manager of molluscs, Bruce is responsible for a vast collection of several million specimens representing more than 4,700 New Zealand species. These range in size from tiny snails 0.48 mm in length to enormous colossal and giant squid specimens up to 10 m long.
What prions are and why we should care
If you see a dead bird on a New Zealand beach it is likely that you have found a prion, as they are the most common kind of bird washed ashore. So why has almost no-one heard of prions and why are many dead on our beaches? The answer is that prions are one of the most abundant seabirds in the southern oceans, with an estimated 95 million individuals.
Nancy Adams, Wendy Nelson and the Three Kings’ seaweeds
The three kings (or three wise men or magi) are Christian icons – but how many people are aware that they have seaweeds named after them? The connection is via the Three Kings Islands north-west of Cape Reinga. Known as Manawatahi to M?ori, they are one of only two localities in New Zealand that have an English name based on a name bestowed by the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, during his brief visit to Staten Landt / Nieuw Zeeland in 1642-43.
Extinct birds of New Zealand, Part 1 – A diverse menagerie, sadly departed
Few New Zealanders are aware how many bird species have been lost since people first reached New Zealand less than 800 years ago. The number of named extinct species continues to increase, largely due to careful examination of bones from Chatham Island dunes and caves, but is currently 53 species – an appalling indictment of the impacts of humans on New Zealand’s biota. Few New Zealanders know many species we have lost, and even fewer are able to name more than a handful of species.
Albatross vs Shark
This beauty and the beast tale did not end happily ever after for either character. Te Papa staff member Hokimate Harwood collected a rather smelly deceased albatross on Wellington’s south coast on 15 November. In the lab we were astounded to see a shark’s tail protruding from its neck.
Election 2017: Voting for the environment
This is a series on five major election issues seen through the eyes of the national museum. In the lead-up to the 2017 General Election, we have linked each of these issues to an object, or a programme, run by Te Papa. In this post, Curator Botany Leon Perrie writes about the Environment. Some commentators have touted the 2017 New Zealand parliamentary election as “the environment election”. At least some voters will be basing their decision on environmental policies.
Kōwhai’s global family tree
The distribution of k?whai and its close relatives throughout the Southern Hemisphere has intrigued scientists, including Charles Darwin, for over 150 years. Recent research led by Lara Shepherd has revealed more about the relationships among this iconic group of plants. Sophora sect. Edwardsia is a group of 19 species of small trees or shrubs mostly found around the Southern Hemisphere oceans. New Zealand is the global hotspot with eight species of k?whai.
The body as a nursery: a wētā’s grim end
Despite appearances, this is not a mutant tree w?t?. The coils emerging from the rear of the w?t? belong to one or more Gordian (or horsehair) worms. Bug expert Dr Phil Sirvid explains the bizarre behaviour of this parasitic worm and why this specimen is a tour favourite. We don’t have any information about where this particular specimen came from, but we do know it has been part of our collection for at least 50 years.
Fantastic water bears and how to photograph them
At Te Papa we’re constantly photographing our collection items – whether that be art works, historical objects, or scientific specimens. Recently, our imaging specialist Jean-Claude Stahl has taken pictures of some bizarre creatures – water bears, also known as tardigrades. Here, Jean-Claude explains why photographing a water bear is such a ‘bugbear’ and bug expert Phil Sirvid fills us in on exactly what a water bear is, and why they are one of the most indestructible creatures on the planet.
Another extinct bird: Northland’s unique shag
Curator of vertebrates Alan Tennyson discusses another previously unknown New Zealand bird extinction, published in a new article today. Last month it was revealed that New Zealand had lost its unique swan in prehistoric times. That list of extinctions continues to grow at an alarming rate as research, led by an Otago University team, published today reveals that New Zealand lost yet another bird in recent times – this time a shag.
Another extinct bird: New Zealand’s prehistoric swan
Curator of vertebrates, Alan Tennyson, discusses new findings published today that New Zealand and the Chatham Islands had their own unique prehistoric swan. Black swans (Cygnus atratus) are a common and prominent part of New Zealand’s wetland fauna today – but have they always been here, or are they recent invaders? For many decades it has been unclear whether or not New Zealand once had its own unique species of swan.
Myrtle rust: why local New Zealand species are under threat
Sadly, the discovery of more sites in New Zealand infected with myrtle rust suggests that it is here to stay. Originally from South America, myrtle rust invaded Australia in 2010 and rapidly spread. Botanist Lara Shepherd discusses what Australian scientists have discovered about myrtle rust over the last seven years. Myrtle rust infects members of the Myrtaceae plant family. The Myrtaceae is Australia’s dominant plant family with over 1,600 native species, including over 500 species of Eucalyptus.
Cuckoos and their toxic prey - ‘urticated’ inside and out
Cuckoos can stomach toxic caterpillars, but it appears they are also impervious to being stung externally, as bird expert Colin Miskelly discovers. A previous blog on this topic referred to shining cuckoos seeking out and eating prey that are toxic to other birds – including caterpillars with urticating hairs. ‘Urticating’ refers to hollow spines that have a venom gland at their base. The spines function like a hypodermic needle, injecting poison into any foolhardy animal that ventures too close.
The global hunt for the original wandering albatross
Vertebrate Curator Alan Tennyson explores the history of the name of the wandering albatross and the hunt for the original specimens. The wandering albatross is one of the world’s greatest ocean wanderers, with individuals circumnavigating the Southern Ocean and travelling 120,000 km in a year. These albatrosses have been among the most high-profile of seabirds ever since reports of their existence in southern oceans reached Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
11,000 images on New Zealand Birds Online – and the Brooks family’s Big Year
The 11,000th image loaded on New Zealand Birds Online was of a rare vagrant Australian duck, and it comes with an inspirational back-story of family-based discovery and adventure. The image of a plumed whistling duck near Napier was one of more than 70 images that Northland-based photographer Scott Brooks loaded on the website following an epic mission undertaken by him, wife Helen, and young sons Ollie (10), Zef (7) and Jay (4 years old).
DNA reveals relationships of the extinct Scarlett’s shearwater
Research scientist Lara Shepherd and vertebrate curator Alan Tennyson look at the relationships of extinct seabird, the Scarlett’s shearwater (Puffinus speleus) in a newly published paper. New Zealand is the seabird capital of the world with more endemic seabird species than anywhere else. But before humans arrived with their exotic predators we used to have even more species.
Conserving plastics: why you should keep your Barbie in the fridge
Many people believe that plastic items are indestructible and will last forever. But what if you learnt this wasn’t the case? Conservator, Nirmala Balram, gives us an insight into the science of plastic deterioration and how you should look after your prized plastic possessions. The world of plastics is huge. Plastics are everywhere. Your computer, work materials, nail polish, house paint, and even your clothes have a plastic component.
Wellington’s summer spiders
Ever felt like you’re removing more spiders from your home in summer compared to the rest of the year? Our bug expert Phil Sirvid explains why spiders are so prevalent in summer, and what kinds commonly turn up in Wellingtonian’s homes. While spider numbers in general are up during the warmer months, for me as a Wellingtonian, the real ‘summer spider’ is the black-headed flax jumping spider (scientific name Trite planiceps) as this time of year is when they are most obvious.
The petrels of Dusky Sound
Have you ever wondered which New Zealand bird was the first to be given a published scientific name? The unlikely answer is the broad-billed prion, named as ‘Procellaria vittata’ by a 22-year-old Georg Forster in 1777. The second species was the little penguin (as ‘Aptenodytes minor’) named by Georg’s father, Reinhold Forster, four years later. The two Forsters accompanied Captain Cook as naturalists on his second visit to New Zealand in 1773-74.
Dusky Sound – rich in history and wildlife
A team of Te Papa scientists recently visited Dusky Sound as the first stage in an investigation of changes in biodiversity since Cook’s visit in 1773. Cook named the area ‘Dusky Bay’ when he sailed past on his first voyage in March 1770, and explored the sound and its wildlife more thoroughly during a 6-week stay three years later.
Seeing earthquakes
Dr Hamish Campbell, Te Papa’s geologist in residence from GNS Science, shares his experience witnessing the green lights in the sky following Sunday night’s earthquake. I was driving home to Wellington from Auckland late on Sunday night after having had dinner in Taupo with Dinah and our children Niamh and Riley. Petrol and coffee in Bulls just before midnight and then onwards beyond Sanson along that long straight stretch of road heading southwest.
Cuckoos, toxic caterpillars, citizen science, and cinerarias
Cuckoos are well-known for eating spiky and poisonous foods, but did you know they can eat toxic monarch caterpillars? The pure, whistling call of the shining cuckoo is New Zealand’s harbinger of spring. This small cuckoo is one of our few migratory landbirds, spending the winter on tropical islands east of Papua New Guinea, and returning to breed here from about the end of August on.
Critters of Taumaka (Open Bay Islands)
Taumaka is a 20 ha M?ori-owned island lying about 4 km off the South Westland coast. Our visit to the island last month was to track foraging trips of breeding tawaki / Fiordland crested penguins, and was undertaken with the permission and support of the Taumaka me Popotai Trust. The island has a large New Zealand fur seal / kekeno rookery, though it is only a fraction of what it was 210+ years ago. Sealers visited Taumaka, and killed more than 11,000 seals between 1810 and 1826.
Clive Roberts and one tiny iota fish
Clive Roberts is a fish biologist who joined the National Museum in 1990, shortly before it evolved into Te Papa. He has particular interests in the identification and distribution of New Zealand fishes within the wider Pacific region. This has included surveys of deep reefs, oceanic ridges and seamounts, and cataloguing the diversity of deep-sea fishes.
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