Mobile Menu Open Mobile Menu Close
back back back

A review of the origin, European discovery, and first descriptions of the red shining-parrot (Prosopeia t. tabuensis) on ‘Eua, Kingdom of Tonga

  • Publication Type

    Journal

  • Publication Year

    2010

  • Author(s)

    D.G. Medway

  • Journal Name

    Notornis

  • Volume, Issue

    57, 3

  • Pagination

    128-134

  • Article Type

    Paper

Keywords

Cook’s voyages; first descriptions; origin of population; Prosopeia t. tabuensis; red shining-parrot; Tonga; type specimens; ’Eua


A review of the origin, European discovery, and first descriptions of the red shining-parrot (Prosopeia t. tabuensis) on ‘Eua, Kingdom of Tonga

Notornis, 57 (3), 128-134

D.G. Medway (2010)

Article Type: Paper

Attachment


Download

Evidence from Cook’s voyages supports the late prehistoric human introduction of the red shining-parrot (Prosopeia tabuensis tabuensis) from Fiji into the Tongatapu group, Kingdom of Tonga. It appears that a wild population of red shining-parrots was established on ’Eua by the time of Cook’s visits to the Tongatapu group in the 1770s. Latham used specimens obtained at ’Eua in 1777 for the 1st published description of the species. However, the correct type locality of the taxon is Fiji. A red shining-parrot specimen used by Latham is in the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna. It is 1 of the few bird specimens that survive from Cook’s voyages.