Fred Ruhe
Well-known member
In 1991 Sula dactylatra fullagari O’Brien & Davies, 1991. was described. Marine Ornithology 18: 1-7
In 1988 van Tets, Meredith, Fullagar & Davidson described Sula tasmani, based on a partial skeleton: Osteological Differences Between Sula and Morus, and a Description of an Extinct New Species of Sula from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Tasman Sea: Notornis 35: 35-57
In 2009 Steeves, Holdaway, Hale, McLay, McAllan, Christian, Hauber & Bunce in their paper Merging Ancient and Modern DNA: Extinct Seebird Taxon Rediscovered in the North Tasman Sea Biology: Letters 2009: 1-5 found that the two names are synonyms. By the rules of priority the name Sula tasmani, or if you prefer Sula dactylatra tasmani van Tets, Meredith, Fullagar & Davidson, 1988 must stand.
It is the first bird described from fossils that is later found to be extant.
Fred Ruhe
In 1988 van Tets, Meredith, Fullagar & Davidson described Sula tasmani, based on a partial skeleton: Osteological Differences Between Sula and Morus, and a Description of an Extinct New Species of Sula from Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, Tasman Sea: Notornis 35: 35-57
In 2009 Steeves, Holdaway, Hale, McLay, McAllan, Christian, Hauber & Bunce in their paper Merging Ancient and Modern DNA: Extinct Seebird Taxon Rediscovered in the North Tasman Sea Biology: Letters 2009: 1-5 found that the two names are synonyms. By the rules of priority the name Sula tasmani, or if you prefer Sula dactylatra tasmani van Tets, Meredith, Fullagar & Davidson, 1988 must stand.
It is the first bird described from fossils that is later found to be extant.
Fred Ruhe
