About: Primophaps

Primophaps schoddei is an extinct genus and species of bird in the pigeon family. It was described from Late Oligocene material (a fossil left coracoid) found at Riversleigh in north-western Queensland, Australia. It was closely related to the Australian bronzewing pigeons, especially those in the genus Phaps. The genus name comes from the Latin primordium, (“beginning” or “origin”), and the Greek phaps (“pigeon”). The specific epithet honours Australian taxonomist Richard Schodde for his work on the relationships of Australian birds.