Gallicolumba

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Gallicolumba

Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica

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