Kagu feature not shared by any other bird. These are presumed to prevent particles entering the nostrils when probing in soil during feeding. Another unique characteristic of the species is that it has only one-third as many red blood cells and three times more hemoglobin per red blood cell than is usual in birds. The kagu is endemic to the forests and shrubland of New Caledonia. Within that island group it is restricted to the main island of Grande Terre. There is no evidence that it occurred on the Loyalty Islands, although fossil remains of the extinct lowland form "R. orarius"
Kagu-tsuchi "Engishiki", a source which contains the myth, Izanami, in her death throes, bears the water god Mizuhame, instructing her to pacify Kagu-tsuchi if he should become violent. This story also contains references to traditional fire-fighting tools: gourds for carrying water and wet clay and water reeds for smothering fires. The name "Kagutsuchi" was originally a compound phrase, consisting of "kagu", an Old Japanese root verb meaning "to shine"; "tsu", the Old Japanese possessive particle; and "chi", an Old Japanese root meaning "force, power". Kagutsuchi was the patron deity of blacksmiths and ceramic workers. He is worshipped in several shrines, one