The Kiwis are native to New Zealand and are flying birds belonging to the genus and family Apterygidae Apteryx. The body size is similar to the chicken and put the most eggs in relation to their body size. It is the smallest living ratites today. About five species of kiwis are now known and all are in the category of endangered species due to deforestation. These species are protected in national parks and reserves of various games. mammalian predators are a dangerous threat to these birds. They are the national symbols of New Zealand. Previously, it was thought that the kiwi is a close relative of the moa. However, recent studies based on DNA have suggested that owls are more closely related to Moa and New Zealand are closer to EMU and emus. This theory suggests that arrived in New Zealand from Australia after the arrival of the moa.
Before the arrival of humans on Earth in the 13th century or earlier, there were three species of bats in New Zealand and all the ecological niches around the world were occupied by horses, wolves and birds. Kiwi is a shy bird and night. nocturnal habits may be the result of the invasion of predators including humans too. The Kiwis are seen during the day only in the sanctuaries of New Zealand. Podocarpaceae prefer to live in subtropical and temperate forests of beech, but some also live in the subalpine shrublands, tussock fields and mountains. They have well-developed sense of smell. They feed on invertebrates, seeds, worms and many types of worms. They also eat fruits, small lobsters, eels and amphibians. The nostrils are present along the edge of the peaks that they are able to locate insects and worms underground present only by his keen sense of the child.
One way a couple of men and women live together all their lives in monogamous pairs. The mating season ranges from June to March and the pair of mating produces a mating call and ask each other overnight. The mating pair know each other in respect of the settlement after three days. This relationship can continue for about 20 years. They are unique among birds because they have a pair of ovarian function. The egg weight can be about one quarter the weight of the female body. Only one egg is laid per season. The kiwi's egg is about six times larger than chicken eggs. The eggs are soft and can be white, ivory, green or white. Men are known to incubate the eggs, except the kiwi Gran as both actors. The incubation period is 63-92 days. Thirty days are required for the egg is fully developed and the female requires food three times to produce a large egg. Two or three days before the egg of the female stops eating.
Its adaptation to the terrestrial habitat is significant. No keel on the sternum to anchor flight muscles. The remains are very small so they are invisible under a cloak of feathers. flying birds have hollow bones that kiwis marrow failure bone marrow bone, but has a condition similar to that of mammals. They also have glands preen and other ratites. The accounts are tender, long and have reduced eyes Pecten. Feathers lack barbules and aftershafts and vibrissae are present. They have 13 flight feathers, the tail, but pygostyle small. Gizzard is weak, but the blind is long and narrow. Kiwi takes its name from the Maori language. London Zoo was the first zoo to commemorate the kiwi in 1851. A number of programs are operating to save this bird can not fly, for example, BNZ Save the Kiwi Trust, Moehau Environment Group, Karori Wildlife Sanctuary Springs Rainbow Trust.
