Gallicolumba
Encyclopedia
Gallicolumba is a mid-sized genus
of ground-dwelling dove
s (family
Columbidae) which occur in rainforests on the Philippines
, Indonesia
, and in the Pacific region. They are not closely related to the American ground-doves (genus Columbina
). Rather, the present genus is closest to the monotypic
Thick-billed Ground Dove
genus Trugon.
This genus includes the Pacific ground-doves and the bleeding-hearts known from the Philippines. The latter are named for their vivid-red patch on the breast, which looks startlingly like a bleeding wound in some species and has reminded naturalist
s of a dagger
stab. The diet of doves of this genus consists of fruits and seed.
of Columbidae which consists of many small and often bizarre lineages (e.g. Goura
and Otidiphaps which are ecologically convergent to Galliformes
, and maybe even the famous didines (Raphinae). Currently not quite 20 species of Gallicolumba 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. A considerable number of recognizably distinct now-extinct Polynesian taxa used to inhabit the area where the white-headed lineage (G. jobiensis, G. erythroptera) and the Melanesia
n expansion that brought about G. sanctaecrucis and G. stairi (and possibly G. rubescens) would have met.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ground-dwelling dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
s (family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Columbidae) which occur in rainforests on the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and in the Pacific region. They are not closely related to the American ground-doves (genus Columbina
Columbina (genus)
Columbina is a genus that contains seven species of small ground doves that live in the New World. Species in Columbina have ranges from the southern United States through Central America and much of South America. Columbina doves are normally found in pairs or small flocks. They generally occur in...
). Rather, the present genus is closest to the monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
Thick-billed Ground Dove
Thick-billed Ground Dove
The Thick-billed Ground Dove is an extinct dove species of the Gallicolumba genus.-Description:This poorly known species is only known from two specimens from 1882 and 1927. The holotype from 1882 can be seen in the Australian Museum in Sydney.The length was about 26 cm. The head, the throat,...
genus Trugon.
This genus includes the Pacific ground-doves and the bleeding-hearts known from the Philippines. The latter are named for their vivid-red patch on the breast, which looks startlingly like a bleeding wound in some species and has reminded naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
s of a dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
stab. The diet of doves of this genus consists of fruits and seed.
Systematics and extinctions
Trugon and Gallicolumba might be ranked as a (very small) subfamily, but the available data suggests that they are better considered part of a quite basal radiationEvolutionary radiation
An evolutionary radiation is an increase in taxonomic diversity or morphological disparity, due to adaptive change or the opening of ecospace. Radiations may affect one clade or many, and be rapid or gradual; where they are rapid, and driven by a single lineage's adaptation to their environment,...
of Columbidae which consists of many small and often bizarre lineages (e.g. Goura
Goura
Goura may refer to:* Goura , a genus of doves* Goura, Corinthia, a village in Greece* Goura, Phocis, a village in Greece* Goura, Cameroon, a place in Centre Province, Cameroon* Goura , a mouth-blown stringed musical instrument...
and Otidiphaps which are ecologically convergent to Galliformes
Galliformes
Galliformes are an order of heavy-bodied ground-feeding domestic or game bird, containing turkey, grouse, chicken, New and Old World Quail, ptarmigan, partridge, pheasant, and the Cracidae. Common names are gamefowl or gamebirds, landfowl, gallinaceous birds or galliforms...
, and maybe even the famous didines (Raphinae). Currently not quite 20 species of Gallicolumba are extant. Of the larger genera of Columbidae, Gallicolumba is the one most affected by extinction
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
. 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
Subfossil
Subfossil refers to remains whose fossilization process is not complete, either for lack of time or because the conditions in which they were buried were not optimal for fossilization....
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. A considerable number of recognizably distinct now-extinct Polynesian taxa used to inhabit the area where the white-headed lineage (G. jobiensis, G. erythroptera) and the Melanesia
Melanesia
Melanesia is a subregion of Oceania extending from the western end of the Pacific Ocean to the Arafura Sea, and eastward to Fiji. The region comprises most of the islands immediately north and northeast of Australia...
n expansion that brought about G. sanctaecrucis and G. stairi (and possibly G. rubescens) would have met.
Species
- Luzon Bleeding-heartLuzon Bleeding-heartThe Luzon Bleeding-heart is one of a number of species of ground dove in the genus Gallicolumba that are called "bleeding-hearts".They get this name from a splash of vivid red colour at the centre of their white breasts...
, Gallicolumba luzonica- Catanduanes Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba luzonica rubiventris - possibly extinct (late 20th century?)
- Mindanao Bleeding-heartMindanao Bleeding-heartThe Mindanao Bleeding-heart is a species of bird in the pigeon and dove family . It is endemic to the Philippines. It is so named because of a red blotch on its breast....
, Gallicolumba crinigera (criniger is a spelling error in the description)- Basilan Bleeding-heart, Gallicolumba crinigera bartletti - possibly extinct (mid-20th century?)
- Mindoro Bleeding-heartMindoro Bleeding-heartThe Mindoro Bleeding-heart is bird native to the Philippines. It is an endangered species. The Mindoro Bleeding-Heart is a type of ground dove....
, Gallicolumba platenae - Negros Bleeding-heartNegros Bleeding-heartNegros Bleeding-heart is a species of pigeon endemic to the Philippines where it is found on the islands of Negros and Panay.This species has an extremely small, severely fragmented population...
, Gallicolumba keayi - Sulu Bleeding-heartSulu Bleeding-heartThe Sulu Bleeding-heart is one of a number of species of ground doves in the genus Gallicolumba that are called "bleeding-hearts". They get this name from a splash of vivid red colour at the centre of their white breasts...
, Gallicolumba menagei - possibly extinct (late 1990s?) - Cinnamon Ground Dove, Gallicolumba rufigula
- Sulawesi Ground Dove, Gallicolumba tristigmata
- Purple Ground Dove, Gallicolumba jobiensis
- Vella Lavella Ground Dove, Gallicolumba jobiensis chalconota - possibly extinct (late 20th century?)
- Norfolk Ground Dove, Gallicolumba norfolciensis - extinct (c.1800)
- White-throated Ground Dove, Gallicolumba xanthonura
- Rota Ground Dove, Gallicolumba sp. - prehistoricLate Quaternary prehistoric birdsPrehistoric birds are various taxa of birds that became extinct before recorded history, or more precisely, before they could be studied alive by bird scientists...
- White-fronted 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 - prehistoricLate Quaternary prehistoric birdsPrehistoric birds are various taxa of birds that became extinct before recorded history, or more precisely, before they could be studied alive by bird scientists...
- Henderson Ground Dove, Gallicolumba leonpascoi - prehistoricLate Quaternary prehistoric birdsPrehistoric birds are various taxa of birds that became extinct before recorded history, or more precisely, before they could be studied alive by bird scientists...
- New Caledonian Ground Dove, Gallicolumba longitarsus - prehistoricLate Quaternary prehistoric birdsPrehistoric birds are various taxa of birds that became extinct before recorded history, or more precisely, before they could be studied alive by bird scientists...
- Tongan Ground Dove, Gallicolumba stairi
- Santa Cruz Ground Dove, Gallicolumba sanctaecrucis
- Tanna Ground DoveTanna Ground DoveThe Tanna Ground Dove , also known as Forster's Dove of Tanna, is an extinct dove species. Its taxonomic affiliation is uncertain but at its first scientific discussion by Johann Georg Wagler in 1829 it was classified into the genus Gallicolumba ; its closest relative is possibly the Santa Cruz...
, Gallicolumba ferruginea - extinct (late 18th-19th century) - Thick-billed Ground DoveThick-billed Ground DoveThe Thick-billed Ground Dove is an extinct dove species of the Gallicolumba genus.-Description:This poorly known species is only known from two specimens from 1882 and 1927. The holotype from 1882 can be seen in the Australian Museum in Sydney.The length was about 26 cm. The head, the throat,...
, 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