Tag Archives: Henderson Island

Bountyphaps obsoleta Worthy & Wragg

Henderson Island Archaic Pigeon (Bountyphaps obsoleta)

This large columbiform was described in 2008 based on subfossil bone material that had been collected from cave deposits on Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Islands.

The species was hunted by the Polynesian settlers and birds were also brought (dead or alive?) to the Gambier Islands, where their subfossil remains were found in archaeological sites. [1]

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References:

[1] 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: 25.04.2022

Philonesia weisleri Preece

Weisler’s Philonesia Snail (Philonesia weisleri)

This species was described in 1998.  

The species was endemic to Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, and is so far known exclusively from the unique holotype that was found during excavations at Henderson Island’s northern beach.  

The sole known shell reaches a height of about 0,71 cm and a diameter of about 0,83 cm.  

Weisler’s Philonesia Snail was closely related to the Pyramid-shaped Philonesia Snail (Philonesia pyramidalis Preece), but differs from this species by its smaller size, the subglobose shape and the more rounded whorl profile, and by the less flattened, more evenly rounded base of the shell. [1]  

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References:  

[1] R. C. Preece: Impact of early Polynesian occupation on the land snail fauna of Henderson Island, Pitcairn group (South Pacific). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 353: 347-368. 1998  

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edited: 25.10.2017

Hirundo tahitensis ssp. ‘Henderson Island’

Henderson Island Swallow (Hirundo (tahitica) ssp.)

The Tahitian Swallow (Hirundo tahitica J. F. Gmelin) (see depiction below) today is restricted to the islands of Mo’orea and Tahiti, Society Islands, but once was probably more widespread as is indicated by numerous subfossil bones that were found at cave sites on the northern beach of Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands.

The Henderson may well have been a distinct and endemic species, what is known for sure is that the bird bred on Henderson Island, since both, adult as well as juvenile bones were found. [1]

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References: 

[1] Graham M. Wragg; Marshall I. Weisler: Extinctions and new records of birds from Henderson Island. Notornis 41: 61-70. 1994

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Tahitian Swallow (Hirundo tahitica J. F. Gmelin); nominate form

Depiction from: ‘Richard Bowdler Sharpe; Claude W. Wyatt: A monograph of the Hirundinidae or the family of swallows. London: printed for the authors 1885-1894’

(public domain)

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edited: 17.10.2020

Pterodroma sp. ‘Henderson Island’

Small Henderson Island Petrel (Pterodroma sp.)

The archaeological sites on Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, yielded numerous subfossil bones of several bird species, most of which are now extinct.

The seabirds are represented by several species that formerly bred on the island and some that still do so today.

The four subfossil bones discussed here, found in a cave named Lone Frigate Cave, however, appear to represent a unknown species that does not fit to any of the recent species. This form was smaller than all other species breeding on Henderson Island today; the Phoenix Petrel (Pterodroma alba (Gmelin)), the Herald Petrel (Pterodroma heraldica Salvin), and Murphy’s Petrel (Pterodroma ultima Murphy).

The species is obviously not identical to the Henderson Petrel (Pterodroma atrata Mathews), which is endemic to Henderson Island and still extant. [1]

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It has nevertheless not yet been described because there are several uncertainties regarding the species-level systematics and osteology within the family Procellariidae. [1]

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References:

[1] Susan E. Schubel; David W. Steadman: More bird bones from Polynesian archaeological sites on Henderson Island, Pitcairn group, South Pacific. Atoll Research Bulletin, 325: 1-14. 1989

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edited: 18.11.2012

Pampusana leonpascoi (Worthy & Wragg)

Henderson Island Ground Dove (Pampusana leonpascoi)

The Henderson Island Ground Dove was described in 2003, it was endemic to Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands.

The species is known exclusively from subfssil remains which indicated that it was a ground-dwelling, flightless bird, it was apparently extirpated by Polynesian settlers who temporarely inhabited Henderson Island.

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edited: 09.03.2020

Prosobonia sauli De Pietri et al.

Henderon Island Sandpiper (Prosobonia sauli)

The Henderson Island Sandpiper is known from subfossil remains, which were compared to the bones of the extant Tuamotu Sandpiper (Prosobonia parvirostris (Peale)); it differed from that species by its longer leg bones and its reduced outer wing bones.

Given the fact that this species apparently had some reduced flight abilities, it might have indeed been restricted to Henderson Island. [1]

The species was finally described in 2020 as a new species, after having been known for almost 26 years. [2]

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References: 

[1] Graham M. Wragg; Marshall I. Weisler: Extinctions and new records of birds from Henderson Island. Notornis 41: 61-70. 1994 
[2] Vanesa L. De Pietri; Trevor H. Worthy; R. Paul Scofield; Theresa L. Cole; Jamie R. Wood; Kieren J. Mitchell; Alice Cibois; Justin J. F. J. Jansen; Alan J. Cooper; Shaohong Feng; Wanjun Chen; Alan J. D. Tennyson; Graham M. Wragg: A new extinct species of Polynesian sandpiper (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae: Prosobonia) from Henderson Island, Pitcairn Island Group, and the phylogenetic relationships of Prosobonia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 20: 1-26. 2020

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edited: 07.05.2021

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

Philonesia pyramidalis Preece

Pyramid-shaped Philonesia Snail (Philonesia pyramidalis 

This species was described in 1998.  

The Pyramid-shaped Philonesia Snail was endemic to Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands, and is known from only three adult subfossil specimens and some apical fragments.  

The shells on average reached sizes of about 0,9 cm.  

The three known specimens differ in the color banding; thus, the Pyramid-shaped Philonesia Snail is believed to have possibly been polymorphic like some of its congeners.  [1]  

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References:  

[1] R. C. Preece: Impact of early Polynesian occupation on the land snail fauna of Henderson Island, Pitcairn group (South Pacific). Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B 353: 347-368. 1998  

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edited: 25.10.2017