Waitaha Penguin

The Waitaha is a species of penguin that went extinct over 500 years ago. New members of the ancient species were discovered while studying the yellow-eyed penguin of New Zealand. The researchers found that the species resurged from DNA that existed in the yellow-eyed penguin for centuriesStuff.co.nz: DNA reveals extinct species (November 20, 2008)

The Waitaha was hunted to extinction by New Zealand Polynesian hunters between 1300 and 1500 AD. While doing research on the endangered yellow-eyed penguin in 2008, the existence of the Waitaha was discovered when ancient bones were compared with the current yellow-eyed penguin. Research revealed that the ancient bones were related to the yellow-eyed penguin but a different species altogether. DNA analysis confirmed the findings. The new species was named the Waitaha, after an early south island people in New Zealand. The discovery of the Waitaha was made by a team from Canterbury museum and Adelaide University. The results were published in the international journal proceedings of the Royal Society.Stuf.co.nz: DNA reveals extinct species (November 20, 2008)