Vanuatu megapode

The Vanuatu megapode or Vanuatu scrubfowl (Megapodius layardi) is a species of bird in the family Megapodiidae. It was formerly known as the New Hebrides scrubfowl. It is found only in Vanuatu. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. The species is threatened by habitat loss and egg collecting.^[1][2]

Vanuatu megapode
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Galliformes
Family:	Megapodiidae
Genus:	Megapodius
Species:	M. layardi
Binomial name
Megapodius layardi Tristram, 1879

Taxonomy

Two syntype specimens of Megapodius layardi Tristram (Ibis, 1879, p. 194.) are held in the collections of National Museums Liverpool at World Museum, with accession numbers T9758 (male adult) and T9759 (female adult). The specimens were collected in Vate Island (Efate) in July 1877 and September 1877, respectively, by Edgar Leopold Layard and came to the Liverpool national collection via Canon Henry Baker Tristram's collection which was purchased in 1896.^[3] There are three further syntypes in the bird collection at the Natural History Museum at Tring.^[4][5]