Tag Archives: Norfolk Island

Aplonis fusca (Gould)

Norfolk Starling (Aplonis fusca)

The Norfolk Starling, aka. Tasman Starling, was restricted to Norfolk Island.

The species reached a size of 20 cm; it was greyish brown colored, with the males having some metallic glossy green feathers on the head.

The Norfolk Starling disappeared due to a combination of several factors, including competition from introduced European Starlings and thrushes, overhunting and destruction of their habitats through agricultural clearings.

The species was apparently last seen in 1923.

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australasian South Polar quadrant: with additions to “birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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edited: 30.04.2021

Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. undulata (Latham)

Norfolk Island Boobook (Ninox novaeseelandiae ssp. undulata)

The Norfolk Island Boobook was described in 1801; it was endemic to Norfolk Island, where it inhabited the subtropical rainforests.

The taxon disappeared after the European settlers begun to clear the forests.

The population was reduced to a last surviving bird in 1986, a female bird named Miamiti, which died in 1996.

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This female mated with a male boobook of the nominate race that had been introduced to Norfolk Island and produced some offspring, which again has given rise to the small population of hybrid boobooks that now inhabit this island.

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Depiction from: ‘Gregory M. Mathews: The Birds of Norfolk & Lord Howe Islands and the Australian south polar quadrant with additions to “The Birds of Australia”. London: H. F. & G. Witherby 1928’

(public domain)

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edited: 05.11.2021

Hemiphaga spadicea (Latham)

Norfolk Island Pigeon (Hemiphaga spadicea)

The Norfolk Island Pigeon is still often regarded to as a subspecies of the New Zealand Pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae (Gmelin)) but clearly constitutes a distinct species.

The species reached a size of 50 cm and differed from the New Zealand Pigeon mainly by the coloration of its wings, which were grey instead of green.

The Norfolk Island Pigeon was apparently last recorded in 1838 and appears to have been gone just by one year later, the reasons for its extinction are overhunting but also predation by introduced mammals, especially cats.

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Depiction from: ‘Lionel Walter Rothschild: Extinct birds: an attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times: that is, within the last six or seven hundred years: to which are added a few which still exist, but are on the verge of extinction. London: Hutchinson & Co. 1907’

(public domain)

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edited: 29.05.2019

Fanulena perrugosa Iredale

Rugose Fanulena Snail (Fanulena perrugosa)

This species was described in 1945, apparently based on two subfossil shells; it was restricted to Norfolk Island.

Shell small, tall, elevated, recalling imitatrix [Fanulena imitatrix (Sykes)], with the apical whorls apparently smooth; the other whorls rounded, prominently ribbed, about twenty ribs seen on face, base rounded, periphery subkeeled, columella slightly thickened, not toothed. Breath, 3.75.; height, 4 mm.

The species was apparently never found alive and is clearly extinct.

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References:

[1] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951
[2] Diana Neuweger; Peter White; Winston F. Ponder: Land snails from Norfolk Island sites. Records of the Australian Museum, Supplement 27: 115-122. 2001

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edited: 15.01.2024

Nestor productus (Gould)

Norfolk Island Kaka (Nestor productus)

The Norfolk Island Kaka was described in 1836, it was restricted to the Norfolk Islands, where it was the largest parrot species.

The species reached a size of about 33 cm, it was rather variable but was mainly very bright yellow and brick red colored on the underside, while the upper side was mainly dark brown. The beak was very much elongated and several specimens show strange bill deformities.

The Norfolk Island Kaka disappeared due to overhunting.

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Depiction from: Henry O. Forbes; Herbert C. Robinson: Catalogue of the parrots (Psittaci) in the Derby Museum. bulletin of the Liverpool Museums 1: 5-22. 1898

(public domain)

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edited: 16.02.2020

Johannesoconcha minuscula Preston

Minuscule Johannesoconcha Snail (Johannesoconcha minuscula)

This species was described in the year 1913 on the basis of subfossil material that was found first in the limestone of the southeast coast of Norfolk Island and later also on other places on the island.  

The shells of this species reached an average size of 0,1 cm in diameter. 

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References:

[1] H. B. Preston: Characters of new Genera and Species of Terrestrial Mollusca from Norfolk Island. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History 8th ser. Vol. 12: 522-538. 1913
[2] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951

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edited: 30.11.2018

Quintalia stoddartii ssp. intermedia Preston

Intermediate Quintalia Snail (Quintalia stoddartii ssp. intermedia)

This subspecies of Stoddart’s Snail was described in 1913; it was restricted to Napean- and Norfolk Island, Norfolk Islands.

This form is now extinct.

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References:

[1] Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951

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Depiction from: ‘Tom Iredale: The Land Mollusca of Norfolk Island. The Australian Zoologist 11: 46-71. 1945-1951’

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

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edited: 17.08.2022