Tag Archives: Malakula

Eclectus infectus ssp. ‘Vanuatu’

Vanuatu Eclectus Parrot (Eclectus infectus ssp.)

This taxon is known from only two bones, a tibiotarsus and an ulna, that were recovered from a Late Holocene archaeological site on the island of Malakula, Vanuatu.

I personally would like to give that form a distinct subspecific placement, since other Eclectus Parrot taxa (Eclectus cornelia Bonaparte, Eclectus polychloros (Scopoli), Eclectus riedeli Meyer, Eclectus roratus (Müller)) are also usually restricted to single islands or island groups.

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References:

[1] David W. Steadman: A new species of extinct parrot (Psittacidae: Eclectus) from Tonga and Vanuatu, South Pacific. Pacific Science 60(1): 137-145. 2006

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edited: 19.05.2022

Zapornia sp. ‚Malakula‘

Malakula Swamphen (Zapornia sp.)  

This is one the countless rail forms that are represented by several subfossil bones only, which, on the one hand, are sufficient enough to show them to be new, but, on the other hand, are not sufficient enough to describe them as new species.  

The bones of this form were excavated on the island of Malakula, Vanuatu.  

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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: 18.10.2020