The kagu is endemic to the forests and shrubland of New Caledonia. The suborder Eurypygae includes the kagu (Rhynochetidae) and sunbittern (Eurypygidae). Rhynochetos is a genus of ground-dwelling birds in the Kagu family. Concern was first raised about the future of the kagu in 1904. The kagu and sunbittern are one another's closest relatives. Notably, the kagu and mesites also have powder down. New Caledonia has one of the most enigmatic birds of the world, the endangered kagu. It formerly had a relative, the lowland kagu, which was about 15% larger. Recent studies do indicate that the sunbittern is the closest living relative of the kagu. Kagu pairs nest in large permanent territories. Kagu calls have been described as strange. The name kagu is derived from the Melanesian names for the species. Following the discovery of the island, various human activities threatened the stability of Kagu populations. The kagu is a ground-living bird, in length. The 1, 2 and 5 francs all feature the national bird, the kagu.