Gallicolumba xanthonura (White-throated Ground-dove)

[Melanie]

The Guam white-throated ground dove (Gallicolumba xanthonura xanthonura) was endemic to Guam [26].
Last seen 1986

www.sw-center.org/swcbd/Programs/policy/esa/essa-App-A.pdf

The Guam white-throated ground dove (Gallicolumba xanthonura xanthonura) was petitioned for listing in 1979, put on the candidate list in 1982, and went extinct in 1986.

www.biologicaldiversity.org/swcbd/species/vagrans/

[Melanie]

White-throated Ground Dove (Gallicolumba xanthonura xanthonura)


last observed in 1986 on Guam

island forest and second growth ground herbivore endemic to Guam

disappeared after introduction of brown tree snake from New Guinea during World War II

References:

National Zoo. 2000. web2.si.edu/organiza/museums/zoo/zooview/exhibits/birdhs/wtgdove.htm

Savidge, J.A. 1986. The role of disease and predation in the decline of Guam’s avifauna. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. 79 pp.

Savidge, J.A. 1987. Extinction of an island forest avifauna by an introduced snake. Ecology 68: 660-668.

www.uwsp.edu/geo/faculty/heywood/geog358/extinctb/WTGDove.htm

[Melanie]

according to avibase Gallicolumba xanthonura is now considered as monotypic with no subspecies

so it is only an extinct population as the Marianas White Throated Ground Dove is still exist.

[another specialist]

nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/Facts/FactSheets/fact-guambirds.cfm

[Melanie]

White-throated Ground Dove Paluman Apåka' (male) / Paluman Fachi' (female)Gallicolomba xanthonura
Endangered Species Native Species
Extinct on Guam
The White-throated Ground-Dove could once be recognized by its low moaning cry, which was heard early in the morning or late afternoon.
The male dove, or "paluman apåka' ", which means white bird in Chamoru, had a chocolate brown body and wings. It got its name from its white head and breast. Female doves had shades of brown with no white. Males and female doves looked so different that Chamorus called the female "paluman fache' ". Fache' is the Chamoru word for mud or muddy.
The males were aggressive and would fight another male by attacking its head and neck. Sometimes they fell through the trees as they fought. After they had regained their dignity, the males pranced about flapping their wings and puffing out their chests. They would fight until one male won a waiting female. Paluman apåka' and paluman fache' ate small berries, fruit, seeds and flowers while perched in the branches of trees. A male and female built their nest high in a tall tree and both helped incubate the eggs. Young ground-doves were fed "pigeon's milk" until they were almost as large as their parents.
Once common in Guam's limestone forests, the last dove sighting was in 1987. Predation by brown tree snakes was the main cause of their extinction on Guam. Because ground-doves still remain in the Northern Marianas, it may be possible to reintroduce them back into the wild on Guam if brown tree snakes can be controlled or eradicated.

www.guamdawr.org/learningcenter/factsheets/birds/grounddove_html

[another specialist]

White-throated Ground Dove

Diet: Fruits, seeds, and flowers

Habitat: Forests, clearings, and second-growth

Distribution: The White-throated Ground Dove is endemic to the Mariana Islands from Guam to Saipan.

The Guam subspecies, Gallicolumba xanthonura xanthonura, was last seen in 1986.

from same source as pic above

[another specialist]

www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/education/bts/impacts/birds.asp

[dysmorodrepanis]

There are no subspecies of G. xanthonura accepted anymore today.

[another specialist]

dysmorodrepanis said:

There are no subspecies of G. xanthonura accepted anymore today.

any sources for this change in taxo?

[sebbe67]

dysmorodrepanis is right this species is monotypic and has so been for a while, hbw 5 and Doves and pigeons of the world is a few books which dont classify any subspecies, the Guam population was probably only a local exteripation.

[another specialist]

Thanks sebbe67 for info

[surroundx]

Since there are no subspecies recognised any more this taxon should be considered as rediscovered, as the nominate taxon is synonymous with the other previously considered subspecies, which are still extant.