Topic
Lapitiguana
About: Lapitiguana is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2 publications have been published within this topic receiving 53 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: A giant iguana recovered from archaeological sites in the Ha'apai group of islands, Kingdom of Tonga, became extinct within a century of human arrival and is described as a new species of Brachylophus, a genus with two small arboreal species found today in Fiji and parts of TongA.
Abstract: The diversity and distribution of Pacific island iguanas were altered drastically following human colonization around 2800 years ago. A giant iguana recovered from archaeological sites in the Ha'apai group of islands, Kingdom of Tonga, became extinct within a century of human arrival. We describe this iguana as a new species of Brachylophus, a genus with two small arboreal species found today in Fiji (Brachylophus fasciatus, Brachylophus vitiensis) and parts of Tonga (Brachylophus fasciatus). Additional evidence suggests that B. fasciatus was probably introduced to Tonga (the type locality) by prehistoric people 2000 years after extinction of the giant form. Lapitiguana impensa, described in 2003 from Fiji by G. K. Pregill and T. H. Worthy was an even larger extinct iguana that also succumbed to human impact. The two living species are relicts of a much richer evolutionary history than previously known.
55 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The Lapita site of VL 21/5 dates from 900 BC and represents an initial colonising settlement within the Fiji Islands as discussed by the authors, and the period of occupation ended around 750 BC.
Abstract: This paper brings up-to-date a report by S. Best of initial excavations at Naigani in 1981 (Best 1981). The results of subsequent fieldwork in 2000 include the excavation and dating of Lapita-age ovens associated with early settlement and extinct palaeofauna. These include the giant megapode ( Megavitiornis altirostris ), a species of Ducula pigeon, the giant iguana ( Lapitiguana impensa ), and probably the endemic crocodile ( Volia athollandersoni ). The Lapita site of VL 21/5 dates from 900 BC and represents an initial colonising settlement within the Fiji Islands. The period of occupation ended around 750 BC. The significance of Naigani is considered in terms of chronology, ceramic history, economy, extinctions, origins and interactions.
30 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |