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Didunculus
The tooth-billed pigeons are the only genus (''Didunculus'') of the subfamily Didunculinae, in the pigeon and dove family, (Columbidae). It has no close living relatives, but it has been shown to be genetically close to the dodo, and the genus name ''Didunculus'' means "little dodo". The jaw and tongue structure, and the superficially parrotlike bill have suggested a relationship to the parrots, but these features have arisen from its specialised diet rather than any real relationship. Species Two species are known: * †''Didunculus placopedetes'', Tongan tooth-billed pigeon * ''Didunculus strigirostris'', Tooth-billed pigeon The Tongan tooth-billed pigeon (''Didunculus placopedetes bebefolis'') is only known from subfossil remains in several archaeological sites in Tonga dating 2700–2850 BP and now extinct. The tooth-billed pigeon (''Didunculus strigirostris'') from Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as West ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tooth-billed Pigeon
The tooth-billed pigeon (''Didunculus strigirostris''), also known as the ''manumea'', is a large pigeon found only in Samoa. It is the only living species of genus '' Didunculus''. A related extinct species, the Tongan tooth-billed pigeon (''Didunculus placopedetes''), is only known from subfossil remains in several archeological sites in Tonga. The tooth-billed pigeon is the national bird of Samoa and featured on the 20 '' tālā'' bills and the 50 ''sene'' pieces of the 2008/2011 series. Native only to Samoa's primary rainforest, it is considered to be endangered, with only a few hundred individuals thought to remain in existence. Description The tooth-billed pigeon is a medium-sized, approximately 31 cm long, dark pigeon with reddish feet and red bare skin around the eye. The underparts, head and neck are greyish with a slight blue-green iridescence, and the tail, wings-coverts and tertials are rufous chestnut, while the remaining remiges are blackish. It has a l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
