Common Emerald Dove

Chalcophaps indica (Linnaeus, 1758)

MATERIAL.—Gilles Cave, upper layer: right humerus.

MEASUREMENT (mm).—Length: 33.2.

COMPARATIVE MATERIAL.—Chalcophaps indica, 2 MNHN; USNM many.

STATUS.—Extant, resident; common in New Caledonia, species widespread.

The large fossil pigeon from New Caledonia described below was compared with 19 different genera of Columbidae and was found to be most similar to the large Australasian pigeons included in the genera Goura, Didunculus, and Caloenas (and presumably Microgoura, Otidiphaps, and Trugon, for which no skeletons were available). These differ significantly from other genera of Columbidae likely to occur on New Caledonia and are removed some distance from them in most classifications (e.g., Martin, 1904; Peters, 1937, Goodwin, 1983). The New Caledonian bird shares with the preceding three genera a well-developed, ventrally protruding glenoid facet of the coracoid. It also shares with Caloenas and Goura a very distinctive swollen area on the dorsomedial corner of the sternal end of the coracoid. It differs from Didunculus and Goura in that the procoracoid process does not taper gradually into the shaft and lacks an elongated ligamental scar where it joins the shaft. It differs further from Didunculus in that the insertion of M. coracoideus brachialis does not extend nearly the entire width of the dorsal surface of the sternal end of the coracoid, and the sternum lacks the distinct pit dorsal to the manubrium. The new pigeon differs further from Goura in that the brachial depression of the humerus is not as large and deep, the scar for the ligamentum collaterale dorsi is much more proximally situated, and the acromion of the scapula is shorter. In all of the above characters the new pigeon agrees exactly with Caloenas.