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Abstract
A new species of extinct Ducula pigeon is described from abundant fossil material excavated from late Quaternary deposits on Henderson Island, Pitcairn Group, South Pacific Ocean. Tarsometatarsi that are longer than any extant Ducula and relatively reduced wing elements separate this species from all other extinct and extant Ducula. The description of this species adds another large endemic columbid to the suite that has become extinct since the arrival of man on one of the more isolated islands and island groups in the Pacific.
Acknowledgements
GW is especially grateful to be able to dedicate this contribution to Colin Harrison who supervised his PhD on the fossil avifauna of Henderson Island, out of which this study arose. We are pleased to acknowledge Marshall Weisler, who led the archaeological investigations that were part of the Sir Peter Scott Commemorative Expedition to the Pitcairn Islands 1991–1992, and whose work thus is primarily responsible for recovery of the specimens described here. GW also thanks the people of Pitcairn for the hospitality given to him and other expedition members at that time. This study was much advanced by the patient assistance of the curators and collections managers in the following institutions: AIM—Brian Gill; AMNH—Paul Sweet, Allison Andors, Christine Blake; BMNH—Joanne Cooper for measurements of specimens; CM—Geoff Tunnicliffe, Paul Scofield; FM—Tarisi Sorovi-Vunidilo, Sagale Buadromo; MNZ—Alan Tennyson, Sandy Bartle; MVZ—Carla Cicero; USNM—Storrs Olson, Phil Angle; UWBM—Robert C. Faucett.
We thank Michael Hall of MNZ for the excellent photography.