Tongoenas, also known as the Tongan giant pigeon, is an extinct genus of giant pigeon that grew up to 51 centimetres (20 in) long that was once native to the islands of Tonga. It had existed as a genus for at least 60,000 years, and went extinct around 850–600 BCE. The type species and only known species, T. burleyi, was named in 2020 based on subfossil remains.[1]
The only known Tongoenas specimens were found in a cave, which preserved subfossil remains. The large bird was thought to have been hunted and consumed by early human settlers, when they reached the Pacific Islands. It is known from Foa, Lifuka, `Uiha, Ha`afeva, Tongatapu, and `Eua. The research team, while exploring the island, noticed the trees on the island were larger than assumed, bearing exceedingly-large fruits. Lead author David W. Steadman states:[2]
Some of these trees have big, fleshy fruit, clearly adapted for a big pigeon to gulp whole and pass the seeds,
Of the fruit-eating pigeons, this bird is the largest and could have gulped bigger canopy fruit than any others. It takes co-evolution to the extreme
— Steadman
Tongoenas was able to gulp fruits as large as a standard-sized tennis ball. It was considered osteologically comparable to Ducula, Gymnophaps, and Hemiphaga.[1]
Paleoecologyedit
Tongoenas had the ability to take flight, and lived high in the canopies, and is the largest known volant columbid aside from living Goura species. Tongoenas went extinct when humans reached the Pacific Islands. Since Tongoenas co-evolved with guava, mango and the chinaberry lineages, Tongoenas served as a crucial seed disperser, alongside an extinct Ducula species, Ducula shutleri.[1]
Extinctionedit
Since Tongoenas was eaten by the humans who settled on 'Eua, it is likely that Tongoenas was hunted to extinction by ancient humans who had settled there. Tongoenas faced extinction around 850–600 BCE.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdDavid W. Steadman; Oona M. Takano (2020). "A new genus and species of pigeon (Aves, Columbidae) from the Kingdom of Tonga, with an evaluation of hindlimb osteology of columbids from Oceania". Zootaxa. 4810 (3): 401–420. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4810.3.1. PMID 33055729. S2CID 222833133.
^ ab"Giant fruit-gulping pigeon eaten into extinction on Pacific islands". Florida Museum. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
February 15, 2024
tongoenas, also, known, tongan, giant, pigeon, extinct, genus, giant, pigeon, that, grew, centimetres, long, that, once, native, islands, tonga, existed, genus, least, years, went, extinct, around, type, species, only, known, species, burleyi, named, 2020, bas. Tongoenas also known as the Tongan giant pigeon is an extinct genus of giant pigeon that grew up to 51 centimetres 20 in long that was once native to the islands of Tonga It had existed as a genus for at least 60 000 years and went extinct around 850 600 BCE The type species and only known species T burleyi was named in 2020 based on subfossil remains 1 TongoenasTemporal range Late Pleistocene Holocene 0 06 0 00258 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Subfossil remainsScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass AvesOrder ColumbiformesFamily ColumbidaeGenus TongoenasSteadman amp Takano 2020Species T burleyiBinomial name Tongoenas burleyiSteadman amp Takano 2020 Contents 1 Description 2 Paleoecology 3 Extinction 4 ReferencesDescription editThe only known Tongoenas specimens were found in a cave which preserved subfossil remains The large bird was thought to have been hunted and consumed by early human settlers when they reached the Pacific Islands It is known from Foa Lifuka Uiha Ha afeva Tongatapu and Eua The research team while exploring the island noticed the trees on the island were larger than assumed bearing exceedingly large fruits Lead author David W Steadman states 2 Some of these trees have big fleshy fruit clearly adapted for a big pigeon to gulp whole and pass the seeds D Steadman And 2 Of the fruit eating pigeons this bird is the largest and could have gulped bigger canopy fruit than any others It takes co evolution to the extreme Steadman Tongoenas was able to gulp fruits as large as a standard sized tennis ball It was considered osteologically comparable to Ducula Gymnophaps and Hemiphaga 1 Paleoecology editTongoenas had the ability to take flight and lived high in the canopies and is the largest known volant columbid aside from living Goura species Tongoenas went extinct when humans reached the Pacific Islands Since Tongoenas co evolved with guava mango and the chinaberry lineages Tongoenas served as a crucial seed disperser alongside an extinct Ducula species Ducula shutleri 1 Extinction editSince Tongoenas was eaten by the humans who settled on Eua it is likely that Tongoenas was hunted to extinction by ancient humans who had settled there Tongoenas faced extinction around 850 600 BCE 1 References edit a b c d David W Steadman Oona M Takano 2020 A new genus and species of pigeon Aves Columbidae from the Kingdom of Tonga with an evaluation of hindlimb osteology of columbids from Oceania Zootaxa 4810 3 401 420 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 4810 3 1 PMID 33055729 S2CID 222833133 a b Giant fruit gulping pigeon eaten into extinction on Pacific islands Florida Museum 22 July 2020 Retrieved 12 September 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Tongoenas amp oldid 1193067311, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
