Extinct species #2; Javan Lapwing.

Javan Lapwing, Vanellus macropterus.

Formerly placed in a genus of its own Rogibyx tricolor. Also previously named Vanellus tricolor.

History: Probably endemic to Java. Specimens from Sumatra and Timor are suggested as dubious, probably incorrectly labelled. Observations made on Java to late 19th Century. A specimen was collected in the 1920 and there has been no records since 1939. Leiden Museum has a specimen # 22993 of a female collected 20th April 1939 by Meleman.

Specimen number 1987.24.41. No collection data available.
Only added to the collection as a mounted specimen in 1987.
Right lateral view.

There was an unconfirmed record in 2002.

Specimen number 1987.24.41. Head detail.
The wattles were yellow or white in life.

Extinction: Officially considered Critically endangered on the IUCN red data list as not all potential habitat has been surveyed.

Specimen number 1987.24.41.

Thought to have declined due to hunting and trapping but more probably simple human disturbance and habitat loss due to conversion to farming are likely to be main causes. The human population of Java grew very quickly and the already small and vulnerable population would easily have been overcome quickly as a result.

Specimen number 1987.24.41. Dorsal view.

The provenance of this specimen is unknown as no data is available but it may have come from the Leiden Museum of Natural History (RNMH) which has 35 skin specimens with most collected by Max Bartels who collected 28 between 1907 and 1925. The last specimen to be collected in the Leiden collection was in 1939 by Meleman as detailed above.

References:

del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal. J. eds (1996) Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 3. Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Birdlife International (2013) Species factsheet: Haematopus meadewaldoi. http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/speciesfactsheet.php?id=3156  Downloaded from http://birdlife.org on 16/02/2013.

Wikipedia 16/02/2013: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Javan_Lapwing

Naturalis. National Museum of Natural History (Leiden NL). http://nlbif.eti.uva.nl/naturalis/detail.php?lang=uk&id=40  Downloaded 16/02/2013