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Viti Levu giant pigeon Temporal range: Holocene
N. gigoura and Lapitiguana
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Columbiformes
Family:	Columbidae
Genus:	†Natunaornis T. H. Worthy, 2001
Species:	†N. gigoura
Binomial name
†Natunaornis gigoura T. H. Worthy, 2001
Former range (in red)

The Viti Levu giant pigeon or Fiji giant ground pigeon (Natunaornis gigoura) is an extinct flightless pigeon of Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji. It was only slightly smaller than the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) and Rodrigues solitaire (Pezophaps solitaria) and is the first giant flightless pigeon to be discovered on a Pacific island.

Remains of this species were discovered in Quaternary (probably Holocene) Cave deposits in October 1998 and November 1999. Its first description was published in 2001. The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. It is known from the holotype tarsometatarsus and paratypes including various parts of the wings and legs. No parts of the skull are known apart from a possible referred premaxilla (MNZ S37306).

The generic name "Natunaornis" is named after Natuna, the oldest chief of the Volivoli people in the Sigatoka Valley, wherein the fossil bones of the type species were first found. The specific name reflects both the large size of this fossil species and its proposed affinities to the crowned pigeons of genus Goura.

See also

• Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
• Island gigantism

References

1. ^ Worthy, T. H. (December 2001). "A giant flightless pigeon gen. et sp. nov. and a new species of Ducula (Aves: Columbidae), from Quaternary deposits in Fiji". Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand. 31 (4): 763–794. Bibcode:2001JRSNZ..31..763W. doi:10.1080/03014223.2001.9517673. S2CID 83708873.
2. "Natunaornis gigoura; holotype". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 18 July 2010.

v t e Genera of pigeons, sandgrouse, mesites and their extinct allies
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Clade: Neoaves Clade: Columbimorphae
Pteroclimesites Mesitornithiformes Mesitornithidae Mesitornis Monias Pterocliformes Pteroclidae †Archaeoganga †Gerandia †Leptoganga †Linxiavis Pterocles Syrrhaptes
Columbiformes Colombidae incertae sedis †Arenicolumba †Bountyphaps †Dysmoropelia †Lithophaps †Microena †Primophaps †Rupephaps Columbinae Zenaidini Geotrygon Leptotila Leptotrygon Starnoenas Zenaida Zentrygon Columbini Columba †Ectopistes Macropygia Nesoenas Patagioenas Reinwardtoena Spilopelia Streptopelia Turacoena Claravinae Claravis Columbina Metriopelia Paraclaravis Uropelia Raphinae Phabini Gallicolumba Geopelia Geophaps Henicophaps Leucosarcia Ocyphaps Pampusana Petrophassa Phaps Raphini Caloenas †Deliaphaps Didunculus Goura †Microgoura †Natunaornis Otidiphaps †Pezophaps †Raphus Trugon Turturini Alectroenas Chalcophaps Oena Phapitreron Turtur Treronini Treron Ptilinopini Cryptophaps Drepanoptila Ducula Gymnophaps Hemiphaga Lopholaimus Ptilinopus †Tongoenas

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• Extinct flightless birds
• Columbidae
• Endemic birds of Fiji
• Holocene extinctions
• Extinct birds of Oceania
• Fossil taxa described in 2001
• Birds described in 2001
• Late Quaternary prehistoric birds
• Columbiformes stubs
• Fiji stubs