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Gallicolumba

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Gallicolumba

Luzon Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica

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

 

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.

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).

Bones of Gallicolumba ist 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.

 

 

Wikipedia

 http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gallicolumba&action=history

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