New Caledonian ground dove
| New Caledonian ground dove | |
|---|---|
| Subfossil | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Columbiformes |
| Family: | Columbidae |
| Genus: | Gallicolumba |
| Species: | G. longitarsus |
| Binomial name | |
| Gallicolumba longitarsus Balouet & Olson, 1989 | |
The New Caledonian ground dove (Gallicolumba longitarsus) is a large, extinct species of ground dove in the pigeon family, and the largest member of its genus. It was endemic to the island of New Caledonia in Melanesia in the south-west Pacific region. It was described from subfossil bones found at the Pindai Caves paleontological site on the west coast of Grande Terre. The specific epithet refers to the slender and elongated tarsometatarsus, or lower leg bone, of the species.[1]
References
- ↑ Balouet, J.C.; Olson, Storrs L. (1989). "Fossil birds from Late Quaternary deposits in New Caledonia" (PDF). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 469: 16–17. doi:10.5479/si.00810282.469.
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