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


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