Gallicolumba

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Gallicolumba
Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Columbiformes Family: Columbidae Genus: Gallicolumba Heck, 1849
Species
see article text
Synonyms
Phlegoenas Reichenbach, 1852

Gallicolumba is a genus of ground-dwelling doves which occur in rainforests on the Philippines, Indonesia, and in the Pacific region. This include the Ground-doves from the Pacific islands and the Bleeding-hearts known from the Philippines. The latter are named thus for a vivid-red patch on the breast which looks startlingly like a bleeding wound in some species; it reminded naturalists of a dagger stab. The diet of doves of this genus consists of fruits and seed.

[edit] Systematics

Currently about 20 species are extant. Of the larger genera of Columbidae, Gallicolumba is the one most affected by extinction. 3-4 species have disappeared since the 18th century, and most of the remaining are decreasing in numbers, threatened with extinction or have lost subspecies due to habitat destruction, invasive species, or overhunting. In addition, there are several species never studied alive but known from subfossil bones. These became extinct during the human settlement of the Southern Pacific region (c. 3000 BC - 1400).

The bones of Gallicolumba are distinct enough to usually recognize this genus with ease. Still, the evolutionary affiliation of extinct species is often uncertain. Especially, most extinct Polynesian taxa occur in the area where the white-headed (G. jobiensis, G. erythroptera) lineage and the Melanesian expansion that brought about G. sanctaecrucis and G. stairi, and possibly G. rubescens, would have met.

• Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica
  • Catanduanes Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris - possibly extinct (late 20th century?)
• Mindanao Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera (criniger is a spelling error in the description)
  • Basilan Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera bartletti - possibly extinct (mid-20th century?)
• Mindoro Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba platenae
• Negros Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba keayi
• Sulu Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba menagei - possibly extinct (late 1990s?)
• Cinnamon Ground-dove, Gallicolumba rufigula
• Sulawesi Ground-dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata
• White-breasted Ground-dove, Gallicolumba jobiensis
  • Vella Lavella Ground-dove, Gallicolumba jobiensis chalconota - possibly extinct (late 20th century?)
• Norfolk Island Ground-dove, Gallicolumba norfolciensis - extinct (c.1800)
• White-throated Ground-dove, Gallicolumba xanthonura
• Rota Ground Dove, Gallicolumba sp. - prehistoric
• Caroline Islands Ground-dove, Gallicolumba kubaryi
• Polynesian Ground-dove, Gallicolumba erythroptera
  • White-headed Polynesian Ground-dove, Gallicolumba erythroptera albicollis - probably extinct (20th century); taxonomic status unresolved
• Great Ground-dove, Gallicolumba nui - prehistoric
• Henderson Island Ground-dove, Gallicolumba leonpascoi - prehistoric
• New Caledonian Ground-dove, Gallicolumba longitarsus - prehistoric
• Shy Ground-dove, Gallicolumba stairi
• Santa Cruz Ground-dove, Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis
• Tanna Ground-dove, Gallicolumba ferruginea - extinct (late 18th-19th century)
• Thick-billed Ground-dove, Gallicolumba salamonis - extinct (mid-20th century)
• Marquesan Ground-dove, Gallicolumba rubescens
• Bronze Ground-dove, Gallicolumba beccarii
• Palau Ground-dove, Gallicolumba canifrons
• Wetar Ground-dove, Gallicolumba hoedtii

[edit] Further reading

• Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace & Cox, John (2001): Pigeons and Doves. Pica Press, The Banks, ISBN 1-873403-60-7
• Steadman, David William (2006): Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-77142-3
• del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1997). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334229