Tag Archives: Apteribis sp.

Apteribis sp. ‘Maui’

Maui Lowland Ibis (Apteribis sp.)  

The Maui Lowland Ibis is known exclusively from subfossil bones, all recovered from lowland areas on the island of Maui, Hawaiian Islands.  

This form has not yet been described, it differed from the Maui Ibis (Apteribis brevis Olson & James) by its larger size and is thus thought to represent a somewhat distinct taxon. [1]  

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References:  

[1] S. L. Olson; H. F. James: Descriptions of thirty-two new species of birds from the Hawaiian Islands: Part I. Non-Passeriformes. Ornithological Monographs 45: 1-91. 1991  

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edited: 23.03.2018

Apteribis sp. ‘Lana’i’

Lanai Ibis (Apteribis sp.)  

The Lanai Ibis is a hitherto undescribed form, known from a nearly complete skeleton that was found in a vaulted dry lava tube on the island of Lana’i, Hawaiian Islands.  

The find even was in a very good condition and even included some remains of contour feathers which were used to reconstruct the appearance of the bird in life. The bird was brown-black and ivory-beige resp. light brown colored, and, just like its congeners on the other Maui Nui islands (Maui and Moloka’i), completely flightless. [1]  

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References:  [1] C. J. Dove; S. L. Olson: Fossil Feathers from the Hawaiian Flightless Ibis (Apteribis sp.): Plumage coloration and systematics of a prehistorically extinct bird. Journal of Paleontology. 85(5): 892-897. 2011  

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edited: 23.03.2018