Fossil Evidence Describe a New Species of the Polynesian Sandpiper

While preserving endangered species, researchers may once in a while discover a new species. Fossil evidence from nearly two decades ago describes a new avian species of the Polynesian sandpiper from the past.

Between 1991 and 1992, the Sir Peter Scott Commemorative Expedition on Henderson Island led to the discovery of fossil records from the Holocene period. The findings were published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society describing the Henderson Sandpiper Prosobonia sauli.

Extinct Species

The fossil bones, now found in the Natural History Museum in Tring, England, revealed that the Henderson Sandpiper has been extinct for several centuries. P. sauli is now the fifth known species of the Polynesian sandpiper. The only species left is the endangered Tuamotu Sandpiper while the rest have gone extinct.

Dr. Vanesa De Pietri from Canterbury Museum said that the P. sauli may have gone extinct soon after humans settled on Henderson Island during the 11th century. They may have brought along the Polynesian rat which is a threat to Polynesian sandpiper populations.

Genetic evidence of the extinct Tahiti Sandpiper and the Tuamotu Sandpiper revealed unique traits compared to other wading bird species. For example, they are related to turnstones and calidrine sandpipers. Unlike other wading species, Polynesian sandpipers are only found on the Pacific island and do not migrate, explained Dr. De Pietri.

The closely related Polynesian sandpipers also have significant physical differences. For instance, the Tuamotu Sandpiper has longer limbs and a wider, straighter bill compared to the shorter Henderson Sandpiper. The physical differences are evidence of how the species adapted to the environment on Henderson Island.

Preserving the Last Polynesian Sandpipers

Henderson Island is one of Pitcairn Islands, a group of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean forming the British Overseas Territory. In 1988, the island became a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the "world's best remaining examples of an elevated coral atoll ecosystem," with large seabird colonies, vascular plants, and corals. Since there have been very few studies of the island, researchers have yet to identify what caused the extinction of several species on Henderson Island.

"The island is really quite remarkable because every land bird species that live there, or that we know used to live there, is not found anywhere else," said Dr. Paul Scofield, also from Canterbury Museum. Since the last colonies during the 15th century, Henderson Island has remained uninhabited.

Threats to Henderson island include tourists and fishermen landing on the island. Plastic pollution and toxic waste could also endanger the endemic species thriving on the island.

Dr. De Pietri concluded that their research is a reminder that the remaining Tuamotu Sandpiper needs protection. Within a few centuries, five Polynesian sandpiper species around the Pacific were reduced to just one. Today, the Tuamotu Sandpiper numbers continue to decline ", so we need to ensure we look after the remaining populations."

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