QUATERNARY FOSSIL FAUNAS OF OTAGO, SOUTH-ISLAND, NEW-ZEALAND

The Quaternary terrestrial faunas, primarily birds, of three inland di stricts in Otago, South Island, New Zealand are described. The three a reas (North Otago, Central Otago and near Wanaka) differ in their pres ent topography and climate, and their palaeofaunas are also different: that of North Otago is considerably more diverse than either of the o thers. The differences are related to habitat diversity and climate. I n Otago, 62 native species of birds, plus greater and lesser short-tai led bats Mystacina spp., tuatara Sphenodon, Duvaucel's gecko Hoplodact ylus duvaucelii, common gecko H. maculatus, and indeterminate skinks O ligosoma spp, are recorded from fossil deposits. Most deposits are of Holocene age. Swamp-miring, predation by laughing owls and falcons, an d pitfall processes were responsible for accumulating the fossils. The holotype of Ocydromus insignis Forbes is identified, and the species synonymised with Gallirallus australis Sparrman.