Tag Archives: Ducula

Ducula tihonireasini Rigal, Kirch & Worthy

Mangarevan Imperial Pigeon (Ducula tihonireasini)

This species was already known from subfossil remains for several years when it was described in 2018.

The Mangarevan Imperial Pigeon apparently was still alive when the first Europeans set foot on the Gambier Islands in the 1820s.:  

“Of the feathered tribe, oceanic bird form the greater part; but even these are rare compared with the numbers that usually frequent the islands of the Pacific, arising, no doubt, from the Gambier Islands being inhabited. The whole consist of three kinds of tern, the white, black, and slate-coloured – of which the first are most numerous, and the last very scarce; together with a species of procellaria, the white heron, and the tropic and egg birds. Those frequent the shore are a kind of pharmatopus, curlew, charadrine, and totanus; and the woods, the wood-pigeon, and a species of turdus, somewhat resembling a thrush in plumage, but smaller, possessing a similar though less harmonious note.” [1]

It died out sometimes later.

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References:

[1] Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Beering’s Strait, to co-operate with the polar expeditions : performed in His Majesty’s ship Blossom, under the command of Captain F. W. Beechey in the years 1825, 26, 27, 28. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley 1831
[2] Stanislas Rigal; Patrick V. Kirch; Trevor H. Worthy: New prehistoric avifaunas from the Gambier Group, French Polynesia. Palaeontologia Electronica 21.3.4A 1-35. 2018

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edited: 04.05.2021

cf. Ducula sp. ‚Rapa‘

Large Rapa Pigeon (cf. Ducula sp.)

This species is known from several subfossil remains that were recovered from deposits on the island of Rapa, Austral Islands. 

These remains come from a larger species, like a larger Ducula sp., and shows some indications of reduced powers of flight or even flightlessness, which is now known from several extirpated Polynesian pigeon species. [1]

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The sole surviving pigeon species on the island of Rapa today is the Rapa Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus huttoni Finsch), which itself is somewhat aberrant and unusual large for a member of its genus.

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References:

[1] J. D. Tennyson; Atholl Anderson: Bird, reptile and mammal remains from archaeological sites on Rapa Island. In: Atholl Anderson; Douglas J. Kennett: Taking the High Ground; The archaeology of Rapa, a fortified island in remote East Polynesia. In: Terra Australis 37. 105-114. Canberra, ANU E Press 2012

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edited: 08.02.2020

Ducula carola ssp. nigrorum (Whitehead)

Black-breasted imperial-Pigeon (Ducula carola ssp. nigrorum)

The Black-breasted imperial-Pigeon was described in 1897, it apparently is, or was endemic the the islands of Negros and Siquijor, Philippine Islands

The species reached a size of about 33 cm.

The form was last recorded in the 1950s and, given the state of the Philippine’s natural areas, it very likely is extinct.

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edited: 14.05.2019

Ducula lakeba Worthy

Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula lakeba)

The Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon was described based on subfossil bones that had been discovered on the island of Lakeba, Fiji.

The species was larger than any living species of its genus and had somewhat elongated tarsometatarsi, which might indicate that this was rather a ground-dwelling bird, it was, however, not flightless. [1]

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This- or a closely and similar species is also known from subfossil remains found on the island of Viti Levu, Fiji. [1]

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References:

[1] T. H. Worthy: A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji. Journal of the royal Society of new Zealand 31(4): 763-794. 2001

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edited: 14.05.2019

Ducula david Balouet & Olson

David’s Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula david)

This species was described in 1987 from subfossil remains that were found on the island of ‘Uvea, Wallis & Futuna.

David’s Imperial-Pigeon was a large pigeon, about the size of the Nuku Hiva Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula galeata (Bonaparte)) from the Marquesas, a species that reaches a size of more than 55 cm. [1]

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References:

[1] Jean Christophe Balouet; Storrs L. Olson: A new extinct species of giant pigeon (Columbidae: Ducula) from archaeological deposits on Wallis (Uvea) Island, South Pacific. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 100(4): 769-775. 1987

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edited: 14.05.2019

Ducula sp. ‘Viti Levu’

Viti Levu Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula sp.)

The Viti Levu Imperial-Pigeon is an undescribed species that is known only from subfossil remains that were recovered from the island of Viti Levu, Fiji.

The species is said to have been similar in size to the Lakeba Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula lakeba Worthy) and both may in fact have been identical to each other. [1]

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References:

[1] T. H. Worthy: A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji. Journal of the royal Society of new Zealand 31(4): 763-794. 2001

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edited: 14.05.2019

Ducula harrisoni Wragg & Worthy

Henderson Island Imperial-Pigeon (Ducula harrisoni)

This species was described in 2006, it is known from subfossil remains recovered from Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, which originally were thought to originate from two different species.

The Henderson Island Imperial-Pigeon was larger than all living members of its genus, it had enlarged leg- and reduced wing elements, so was on its way to become flightless.

The species was apparently among the first birds from Henderson Island to become extinct due to hunting by Polynesian settlers.

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edited: 14.05.2019