Rhea (bird) to be growing. The genus name was given in 1752 by Paul Möhring and adopted as the English common name. Möhring named the rhea based on the Greek Titan Rhea, whose name is derived from the Greek "Rhea" () from έρα "ground". This was fitting with the rhea being a flightless ground bird. Depending on the South American region, the rhea is known locally as "ñandú guazu" (Guaraní, meaning big spider, most probably in relation to their habit of opening and lowering alternate wings when they run), "ema" (Portuguese), "suri" (Aymara and Quechua), or "choique" (Mapudungun). "Nandu" is the common
South Island takahē South Island takahē The takahē ("Porphyrio hochstetteri"), also known as the South Island takahē or notornis, is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand, and the largest living member of the rail family. First encountered by Europeans in 1847, just four specimens were collected in the 19th century. After the final bird was captured in 1898, and no more were to be found, the species was presumed extinct. Fifty years later, however, after a carefully planned search, takahē were dramatically rediscovered in 1948 by Geoffrey Orbell in an isolated valley in the South Island's Murchison Mountains. The species is now