A new species of extinct imperial pigeon (Ducula: Columbidae) from Henderson Island, Pitcairn Group

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.