Notes on subfossil Anatidae from New Zealand, including a new species of Pink-eared Duck Malacorhynchus

Abstract

A new species of pink-eared duck, Malacorhynchus scarletti, is described from subfossil deposits at Pyramid Valley, South Island, NZ, and is characterized by larger size. Preliminary observations indicate that subfossil specimens of Biziura from New Zealand are larger and differ qualitatively from B. lobata; for the present, the name Biziura delautouri Forbes, 1892, ought to be retained for the New Zealand form. An erroneous record of Mergus australis is corrected.