Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts
The Chatham Islands pigeon (Parea) deserves full species status;
Hemiphaga chathamensis (Rothschild 1891); Aves:
Columbidae
P. R. Millener* and R. G. Powlesland**
*Baylor School, P.O. Box 1337, Chattanooga, TN 37401, USA.
**Science & Research Unit, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10420,
Wellington, New Zealand.
Comparisons of the osteology and external morphology of the mainland and the
Chatham Island forms of the New Zealand pigeon (
Hemiphaga
novaeseelandiae (Gmelin)) show that the two differ markedly in size,
appearance, and structure, and should be considered as full species,
H.
novaeseelandiae and
H. chathamensis (Rothschild), respectively.
Aside from the plumage characters used by Rothschild, such as the distinct
plumage and soft-part colours, additional diagnostic characters are documented.
H. chathamensis is distinguished by its greater body size, weaker
pectoral girdle, relatively shorter wings and tail, stronger, deeper bill,
broader pelvis, longer legs, and less curved claws.
Keywords Columbidae; Hemiphaga; New Zealand pigeon;
Chatham Islands pigeon; taxonomic status; osteology; functional morphology
R99003. Received 12 December 1999; accepted 14 September 2000
(c) Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand,
Volume 31, Number 2, June 2001, pp 365-383
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1860K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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