Osteological characters for the identification of Caribbean columbids

Columbid remains are commonly recovered from Caribbean archaeological and paleontological sites. Identifying specimens to species level is therefore likely yield a wealth of information concerning diversity changes in their distribution over time. Here we examine the metrical data 42 osteological characters eight skeletal elements 80 belonging 12 five genera that represent most indigenous taxa West Indies. Our new provide reliable means for identifying these birds fossil subfossil record.