Hemiphaga is the genus containing two species of large pigeons from New Zealand.

Hemiphaga
Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae
Subfamily: Ptilinopinae
Genus: Hemiphaga
Bonaparte, 1854
Type species
Columba novaeseelandiae
Gmelin, 1789
Species

See text

There are two subspecies of New Zealand pigeon, Hemiphaga novaseelandiae: H. n. novaseelandiae of mainland New Zealand and the Norfolk pigeon (H. n. spadicea) of Norfolk Island, now extinct. The subspecies differed in their plumage colour and shape.[1]

In 2001, it was proposed that a third subspecies, H. n. chathamensis or the Chatham Island pigeon, was distinct enough to be raised to full species status as H. chathamensis.[2] This has since been accepted by most authorities.[3][4]

Taxonomy edit

The genus Hemiphaga was introduced by the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854 with the New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae) as the type species.[5] The name combines the Ancient Greek hēmi meaning "half-" or "small" with the end of the genus name Carpophaga introduced by Prideaux John Selby in 1835.[6]

The genus contains two species:[7]

Genus HemiphagaBonaparte, 1854 – two species
Common name Scientific name and subspecies Range Size and ecology IUCN status and estimated population
New Zealand pigeon or kererū

 

Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae
(Gmelin, 1789)

Two subspecies
  • H. n. novaeseelandiae
  • N. h. spadicea
Northland to Stewart Island/Rakiura and offshore islands
 
Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 LC 


Chatham pigeon or parea

 

Hemiphaga chathamensis
(Rothschild, 1891)
Chatham Islands in New Zealand Size:

Habitat:

Diet:
 VU 



References edit

  1. ^ James, R. E. (1995). Breeding ecology of the New Zealand pigeon at Wenderholm Regional Park. p93. School of Environmental and Marine Science. University of Auckland, Auckland.
  2. ^ Millener, P. R., and R. G. Powlesland. (2001). The Chatham Island pigeon (Chatham pigeon) deserves full species status; Hemiphaga chathamensis (Rothschild 1891); Aves: Columbidae. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand 31:365–383.
  3. ^ "Updates & Corrections – December 2009 | Clements Checklist". www.birds.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  4. ^ "SPECIES UPDATES-Version 1.5 (January 16, 2008)". www.worldbirdnames.org. 16 January 2008. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  5. ^ Bonaparte, Charles Lucien (1854). "Coup d'oeil sur les pigeons (deuxième partie)". Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences (in French). 39: 1072–1078 [1076–1077].
  6. ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. p. 189. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
  7. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Pigeons". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 16 March 2020.