Hemiphaga
Genus of birds
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hemiphaga is a genus containing two species of large pigeons from New Zealand.
| Hemiphaga | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae | |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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
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]
| 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
|
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
|
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