Hemiphaga | |
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Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Columbiformes |
Family: | Columbidae |
Subfamily: | Ptilinopinae |
Genus: |
Hemiphaga Bonaparte, 1854 |
Type species | |
Columba novaeseelandiae
Gmelin, 1789
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Species | |
See text |
Hemiphaga is the genus containing two large species of pigeons from New Zealand.
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]
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]
Image | Scientific name | Common name | Distribution |
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Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae | New Zealand pigeon or kererū | Northland to Stewart Island/Rakiura and offshore islands |
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Hemiphaga chathamensis | Chatham pigeon or parea | Chatham Islands in New Zealand |
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