Large Eua White-eye (Zosteropidae gen. & sp.)
The subfossil remains of this bird were found on the Tongan island of ‘Eua, it can be assigned to the white-eye family (Zosteropidae), however, not at least because of its large size, it cannot be assigned to any genus.
The form has currently no scientific name. [1][2][3]
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The neighboring island of Tongatapu harbored another similar form, also known exclusively from subfossil bone material, which may be identical with the form from the island of ‘Eua. [3]
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References:
[1] David W. Steadman: Biogeography of Tongan birds before and after human impact. Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci. USA 90: 818-822. 1993
[2] D. W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006
[3] S. T. Turvey: Holocene Extinctions. Oxford University Press, USA 2009
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edited: 17.09.2020