Tag Archives: New Providence

Gallinago kakuki Steadman & Takano

West Indian Snipe (Gallinago kakuki)

The West Indian Snipe was described in 2016, its fossil or subfossil remains were recovered from Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene deposits on several islands and island groups including the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The West Indian Snipe was a volant species but probably had quite short wings, this can be assumed from the shape of its wing bones. [1][2]

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The species probably died out for more or less natural reasons, following changing environmental conditions due to changes in the height of the sea level after the beginning of the Holocene. The last remaining populations were then probably extirpated by the first Amerindian settlers.

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References:

[1] William Suárez: The enigmatic snipe Capella sp. (Aves: Scolopacidae) in the fossil record of cuba. Caribbean Journal of science 40(1): 155-157. 2004
[2] David W. Steadman; Oona M. Takano: A new extinct species of Snipe (Aves: Scolopacidae: Gallinago) from the West Indies. Zootaxa 4109(3): 345-358. 2016

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edited: 01.03.2024

Tyto pollens Wetmore

Bahamian Giant Owl (Tyto pollens)

The Bahamian Giant Owl, described in 1936 based on subfossil remains, was formerly thought to have been endemic to the Bahaman islands but is now known to have also occurred on the island of Cuba.

It was the largest species within its genus, and its remains are by far the rarest to be found, especially on Cuba.

The Bahamian Giant Barn Owl is known to have preferably preyed upon the Bahamian Hutia (Geocapromys ingrahami (J. A. Allen)), a large, nocturnal rodent species that still inhabits some of the Bahamian islands today. [2] 

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At least two additional species can be added to this list. Tyto pollens was a flightless, 1-m-tall congener of barn owls that likely occurred in old-growth Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea) barrens of Andros Island, Bahamas, in association with early human settlers (see figs. 6-9). It probably gave rise to local lore of chickcharnies, a mischievous leprechaunlike, nocturnal imp said to have three toes and the ability to turn its head all the way around. If disturbed, chickcharnies would impart terrible misfortune. It is possible that territorial defense behaviors of a meter-tall Tyto could give rise to such legends. [1]

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References:

[1] Bruce G. Marcot: Owls of old forests of the world. General Technicl Reports. Portland, Oregon: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station 1-64. 1995
[2] William Suárez; Storrs L. Olson: Systematics and distribution of the giant fossil barn owls of the West Indies (Aves: Strigiformes: Tytonidae). Zootaxa 4020 (3): 533-553. 2015

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edited: 08.09.2019

Chlorostilbon bracei Lawrence

Brace’s Emerald (Chlorostilbon bracei)

Originally, Brace’s Emerald was only ever known by a single male specimen that had been collected in 1877 on the island of New Providence, Bahamas; this was long ignored completely and was considered identical with the Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii (Gervais)) which also inhabits the Bahamas. In 1945 it was then considered to be a subspecies of the Cuban Emerald; only in 1987 it was recognized as having been a completely distinct species.

Brace’s Emerald is now also known from fossil bones that were recovered from Pleistocene deposits on New Providence in the 1980s; it is now understood as a Pleistocene relict that had survived into modern times only to disappear completely after its discovery.

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References:

[1] Gary R. Graves; Storrs L. Olson: Chlorostilbon bracei Lawrence, an extinct species of hummingbird from new Providence Island, Bahamas. The Auk 104: 296-302. 1987

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Depiction: Alexander Lang

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edited: 30.10.2020