Fossil pigeons

Discussion about the evolution, relationships, and naming of New Zealand birds
Ian Southey
Posts: 1100
Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:45 pm

Fossil pigeons

Postby Ian Southey » Fri May 11, 2018 7:09 am

An interesting new pigeon has been described from Miocene deposits in St Bathans - it has been called the Zelandian Dove Deliaphaps zealandiensis https://www.canterburymuseum.com/assets ... e-Aves.pdf It seems to be part of a group that includes the crowned pigeons, the Tooth-billed and Nicobar Pigeons and also the Dodo and Solitaire which is a pretty interesting looking bunch of birds.

An earlier described species Rupephaps taketake, part of the lineage that includes Kereru, has also been described but not mentioned here before https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ew_Zealand

Ian

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