How is the kagu important to the earth?

Answer 1

The Kagu is a nearly flightless bird which lives in New Caledonia. There are several reasons to consider it important.

While virtually every living thing may be said to be important to the Earth, the Kagu has a number of rare or unique characteristics that make it a species of particular interest or, one could say, greater importance.

If one feature stands out, it may be the physiology. In particular, it has a peculiarly high concentration of hemoglobin in its red blood cells. With three times the normal hemoglobin concentration it has also one third the number of red blood cells that are typical in birds. (One immediately wonders what the cause of this extra hemoglobin might be and whether understanding that cause could have medical consequences. Millions of people suffering from respiratory problems would be effectively cured if the blood were able to carry more oxygen.)

It is in danger of extinction. In this case, it is not only the extinction of a species but it is also the only surviving example of the family Rhynochetidae. There is limited fossil record of a few similar species.

Being a species, or at earlier times a few closely related species, that are located on the islands of new Caledonia, they provide and example an evolutionary process where speciation was driven by geography. There are several factors related to this that are important topics of biological study. The most famous example is seen in "Darwin's finches" which were a key factor in Darwin's development of the theory of evolution.

As a ground dwelling carnivorous bird, it is somewhat unusual since most birds are vegetarians. It has a few other evolutionary features of interest with the "nasal corns" covering its nostrils being unique.

It is important to the Kanak tribes of New Caledonia. It has been incorporated into tribal beliefs and customs.

If the very small and endangered population of Kagu suffer extinction, we will lose a bird species with numerous unusual characteristics, (physical, behavioral and evolutionary) and thereby lose the opportunity to study the bird and learn from it.