Trevor H. Worthy
Encyclopedia
Trevor H. Worthy is a paleozoologist
from New Zealand
known for his research work on the moa
.
In the late 1980s Worthy discovered the fossil remains of three frog species from the Leiopelmatidae
family
, the Aurora frog (Leiopelma auroraensis), the Markham's frog (Leiopelma markhami), and the Waitomo frog (Leiopelma waitomoensis). In the 1990s Worthy discovered several fossil bird species new to science, including the Long-billed Wren
(Dendroscansor decurvirostris) in 1991, the Scarlett's Shearwater
(Puffinus spelaeus) in 1991, and the Niue Night Heron (Nycticorax kalavikai) in 1995. By 1998 he spend on Fiji
, were he found subfossil material of the flightless Viti Levu Giant Pigeon
(Natunaornis gigoura), the Viti Levu Scrubfowl (Megapodius amissus), the Viti Levu Snipe
(Coenocorypha miratropica), the Giant Fiji ground frog (Platymantis megabotoniviti), and the small freshwater crocodile Volia athollandersoni. The holotypes of these species are on display in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
.
Further discoveries in which Worthy was involved are the oldest moa bones ever found, the oldest tuatara
bones and a fossil land mammal from New Zealand.
Worthy, who worked under the contract of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
in Masterton
, Nelson
, and for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa since 1991, had to stop his research work for the museum in 2005 after the funding was cut by the foundation. Since 2005 he has been working at the University of Adelaide
, where he received his Ph.D in 2008. In May 2011 he was awarded a Doctor of Science from the University of Waikato.
Worthy is co-author of several articles about prehistoric life in New Zealand. For the book The Lost World of the Moa (2002) he and Richard Holdaway received the D. L. Serventy Medal
from the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
in 2003 for an outstanding published work about Australasia
n avifauna
.
Paleozoology
Paleozoology, also spelled as palaeozoology , is the branch of paleontology or paleobiology dealing with the recovery and identification of multicellular animal remains from geological contexts, and the use of these fossils in the reconstruction of prehistoric environments and ancient...
from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
known for his research work on the moa
Moa
The moa were eleven species of flightless birds endemic to New Zealand. The two largest species, Dinornis robustus and Dinornis novaezelandiae, reached about in height with neck outstretched, and weighed about ....
.
In the late 1980s Worthy discovered the fossil remains of three frog species from the Leiopelmatidae
Leiopelmatidae
Leiopelmatidae, or New Zealand and North American primitive frogs, is a family belonging to the suborder Archaeobatrachia. Their relatively primitive form indicates that they have an ancient lineage...
family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, the Aurora frog (Leiopelma auroraensis), the Markham's frog (Leiopelma markhami), and the Waitomo frog (Leiopelma waitomoensis). In the 1990s Worthy discovered several fossil bird species new to science, including the Long-billed Wren
Long-billed Wren (New Zealand)
The Long-billed Wren was a species of New Zealand wren endemic to the South Island of New Zealand. It was the only species in the genus Dendroscansor...
(Dendroscansor decurvirostris) in 1991, the Scarlett's Shearwater
Scarlett's Shearwater
Scarlett's Shearwater was a species of seabird in the petrel family Procellariidae. Its common name commemorates New Zealand palaeontologist Ron Scarlett....
(Puffinus spelaeus) in 1991, and the Niue Night Heron (Nycticorax kalavikai) in 1995. By 1998 he spend on Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
, were he found subfossil material of the flightless Viti Levu Giant Pigeon
Viti Levu Giant Pigeon
The Viti Levu Giant Pigeon was a flightless pigeon, only slightly smaller than the dodo and Rodrigues solitaire ....
(Natunaornis gigoura), the Viti Levu Scrubfowl (Megapodius amissus), the Viti Levu Snipe
Viti Levu Snipe
The Viti Levu Snipe, Coenocorypha miratropica, was a species of snipe endemic to Fiji. A species of the mostly New Zealand genus Coenocorypha, it became extinct after the arrival of humans in Fiji.-References:...
(Coenocorypha miratropica), the Giant Fiji ground frog (Platymantis megabotoniviti), and the small freshwater crocodile Volia athollandersoni. The holotypes of these species are on display in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand, located in Wellington. It is branded and commonly known as Te Papa and Our Place; "Te Papa Tongarewa" is broadly translatable as "the place of treasures of this land".The museum's principles...
.
Further discoveries in which Worthy was involved are the oldest moa bones ever found, the oldest tuatara
Tuatara
The tuatara is a reptile endemic to New Zealand which, though it resembles most lizards, is actually part of a distinct lineage, order Sphenodontia. The two species of tuatara are the only surviving members of its order, which flourished around 200 million years ago. Their most recent common...
bones and a fossil land mammal from New Zealand.
Worthy, who worked under the contract of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology
The Foundation for Research, Science and Technology was a Crown Entity of New Zealand, established by the Foundation for Research, Science, and Technology Act 1990....
in Masterton
Masterton
Masterton is a large town and local government district in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges...
, Nelson
Nelson, New Zealand
Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island....
, and for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa since 1991, had to stop his research work for the museum in 2005 after the funding was cut by the foundation. Since 2005 he has been working at the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
, where he received his Ph.D in 2008. In May 2011 he was awarded a Doctor of Science from the University of Waikato.
Worthy is co-author of several articles about prehistoric life in New Zealand. For the book The Lost World of the Moa (2002) he and Richard Holdaway received the D. L. Serventy Medal
D. L. Serventy Medal
The D.L. Serventy Medal may be awarded annually by the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union for outstanding published work on birds in the Australasian region. It commemorates Dr Dominic Serventy and was first awarded in 1991...
from the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union
The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest...
in 2003 for an outstanding published work about Australasia
Australasia
Australasia is a region of Oceania comprising Australia, New Zealand, the island of New Guinea, and neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term was coined by Charles de Brosses in Histoire des navigations aux terres australes...
n avifauna
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
.