Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts

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A new species of Gallicolumba: Columbidae from Henderson Island, Pitcairn Group

Trevor H. Worthy

Palaeofaunal Surveys, 2A Willow Park Drive, RD 11, Masterton, New Zealand.
Email: twmoa@wise.net.nz

Graham M. Wragg

350c Great South Road, Papakura, Auckland, New Zealand.

Abstract  A new species of ground dove in the genus Gallicolumba is described from abundant material from late Pleistocene to Holocene age deposits of natural and midden derivation on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Group, South Pacific Ocean. Osteological characters suggest that it was most closely related to G. stairi and G. rubescens. Relatively enlarged leg elements and reduced wing elements suggest that this dove was facultatively flightless.

Keywords  Columbidae; Gallicolumba new species; Henderson Island; Pitcairn Group

R03001 Received 13 January 2003; accepted 18 June 2003; online publication date 19 November 2003
© Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 33, Number 4, December 2003, pp 769-793

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