Lalage sp. ‘Tonga’

Tongan Triller (Lalage sp.)

The Tonga Triller is only known from subfossil bones that were recovered during excavations on the islands of ‘Eua and Tongatapu in the Kingdom of Tonga.

This species was distinct from the Polynesian Triller (Lalage maculosa ssp. tabuensis Mayr & Ripley) (see photo below) that still inhabits these islands today, however, I don’t have any further information about it so far.

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Polynesian Triller (Lalage maculosa ssp. tabuensis Mayr & Ripley)

Photo: Duncan Wright
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

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References:

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006

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edited: 12.05.2022