Tag Archives: Pampusana

Pampusana sp. ‘Efate’

Efate Ground Dove (Pampusana sp.)

This form is known on the basis of subfossil remains that indicate a bird of similar size to the Friendly Ground Dove (Pampusana stairi (Gray)), a species that inhabits the islnds of western Polynesia.

The Efate Ground Dove was sympatric with the still existing smaller Santa Cruz Ground Dove (Pampusana sanctaecrucis (Mayr)). [1]

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References:  

[1] Trevor H. Worthy; Start Hawkins; Stuart Bedford; Matthew Spriggs: Avifauna from the Teouma Lapita site, Efate Island, Vanuatu, including a new genus and species of megapode. Pacific Science 69(2): 205-254. 2015

Pampusana johannae ssp. admiralitatis (Rothschild & E. J. O. Hartert)

Admiralty Islands Bronze Ground Dove (Pampusana johannae ssp. admiralitatis)

The Admiralty Islands Bronze Ground Dove is a subspecies of the Eastern Ground Dove (Pampusana johannae (P. L. Sclater)) restricted to the Admiralty Islands north of eastern Papua New Guinea; it is sometimes assigned as a subspecies to the Western Bronze Ground Dove (Pampusana beccarii (Salvadori)) (see depiction).

This form is thought to be extinct.

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Solomon Bronze Ground-Dove (Pampusana johannae ssp. solomonensis (Ogilvie-Grant)); below, together with Western Bronze Ground Dove (Pampusana beccarii (Salvadori)); above 

Depiction from: Catalogue of the birds in the British Museum. London 21. 1893

(public domain)

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edited: 10.11.2020

Pampusana sp. ‘Mariana Islands’

Large Mariana Islands Ground Dove (Pampusana sp.)

The Large Mariana Islands Ground Dove is known so far only from subfossil remains that were recovered from sites on the island of Rota, Mariana Islands.

The species was formerly sympatric with the congeneric White-throated Ground Dove (Pampusana xanthonura (Temminck)), which is still alive, but was apparently larger. [1]

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References:  

[1] David W. Steadman: Extinct and extirpated birds from Rota, Mariana Islands. Micronesia 25(1): 71-84. 1992

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edited: 09.03.2020

Pampusana sp. ‘Tubuai’

Tubuai Ground Dove (Pampusana sp.)  

This form is known from subfossil remains that were recovered from archaeological deposits on the island of Taubuai, Austral Islands. [1]

The Tubuai Ground Dove may be identical with one of the congeneric forms that had been found on the island of Rurutu, also in the Austral archipelago.

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References:  

[1] Trevor H. Worthy; Robert Bollt: Prehistoric birds and bats from the Atihara Site, Tubuai, Austral Islands, East Polynesia. Pacific Science 65(1): 69-85. 2011

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edited: 09.03.2020

Pampusana jobiensis ssp. chalconotus (Mayr)

Vella Lavella White-breasted Ground Dove (Pampusana jobiensis ssp. chalconotus)

The Vella Lavella White-bibbed Ground Dove is a subspecies of the White-breasted Ground Dove (Pampusana jobiensis (A. B. Meyer)) that probably is rather treated as a full species.

The form is apparently known from only four specimens, two juvenile birds, a probably also not fully-grown female and a male.

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The Vella Lavella White-breasted Ground Dove is officially still extant, however, as far as I could find out, the species was last seen in the 1940s, no sightings did occur since then and it is quite likely extinct.

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edited: 09.03.2020 

Pampusana sp. 2 ‘Rurutu’

Rurutu Ground Dove (Pampusana sp.)  

This is another species from the genus Pampusana (formerly Alopecoenas) that is known from subfossil remains found on the island of Rurutu, Austral Islands. [1]

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References:  

[1] David W. Steadman; Robert Bollt: Prehistoric Birds from Rurutu, Austral Islands, East Polynesia. Pacific Science 64(2): 315-325. 2010

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edited: 09.03.2020

Pampusana ferruginea (Forster)

Tanna Ground Dove (Pampusana ferruginea)

The Tanna Ground-Dove was originally known from two specimens, a male and a female collected on the island of Tanna, Vanuatu, which, however, both are now lost.

The species is often thought to have been most closely related to the Santa Cruz Ground Dove (Pampusana sanctaecrucis (Mayr)) from the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands north of Vanuatu, however, I personally have some doubts and prefer, for geographical reasons, to think that it may have been more closely related to the Friendly Ground Dove from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

All of these Pacific groud dove species are now highly threatened with extinction.

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The only ‘remain’ that proves the former existence of the tanna ground Dove is a drawing of the female specimens made by G. Forster in the 18th century.

The local name of this species was recorded as having been mahk.

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Depiction: Georg Forster, 1774

(public domain)

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edited: 09.03.2020

Pampusana sp. 1 ‘Rurutu’

Rurutu Ground Dove (Pampusana sp.)  

This up to now undescribed ground dove species is known exclusively from subfossil remains that were found on the island of Rurutu, Austral Islands.

The species shared its home island with another congeneric species. [1]

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References:  

[1] David W. Steadman; Robert Bollt: Prehistoric Birds from Rurutu, Austral Islands, East Polynesia. Pacific Science 64(2): 315-325. 2010

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edited: 09.03.2020

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