The breakthrough was revealed in a scientific paper led by Colin Miskelly at Te Papa Museum, New Zealand, and co-authored by South Australian Museum Ornithology Collection Manager Maya Penck and Honorary Researcher Dr Philippa Horton.

DNA was obtained from toe pads cut from museum specimens and sequenced to see whether any were MacGillivray’s prion Pachyptila macgillivrayi.

“Until recently this species had a chequered past, at differing times being considered a subspecies of either the Broad-billed or Salvin’s Prion,” Maya said.

“The research demonstrates the enormous potential of museum skins for genetic research -  usable DNA was obtained, despite some of these skins being more than 90 years old.”

“The research demonstrates the enormous potential of museum skins for genetic research -  usable DNA was obtained, despite some of these skins being more than 90 years old.”

All up, 11 skins from the Museum’s ornithology research collection were included in the study, with four being re-identified as MacGillivray’s Prion as a result. Three of them had previously been tentatively identified as hybrids between Broad-billed and Salvin’s.

There are several species of prions, all can be found in southern Australian waters but most do not breed here.

MacGillivray’s prion, unlike other prions, was previously not known to occur in Australia.

There are nesting colonies on only two tiny, isolated islands: Saint Paul in the Indian Ocean, and Gough Island in the Atlantic Ocean, separated by approximately 7,000km of sea.

“Not only did the study confirm their identity,” Maya said, “but also that ‘our’ MacGillivray’s prions came from the farther Gough Island population.

“Well-looked after museum specimens such as these will continue to provide answers to questions currently not even thought of, highlighting the value of museum collections from the past and into the future.”