Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreeper | |
---|---|
ʻIʻiwi (Drepanis coccinea) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Fringillidae |
Subfamily: | Carduelinae |
Genera | |
See text | |
Synonyms | |
Drepanididae |
Hawaiian honeycreepers are a group of small birds endemic to Hawaiʻi. They are members of the finch family Fringillidae, closely related to the rosefinches (Carpodacus), but many species have evolved features unlike those present in any other finch. Their great morphological diversity is the result of adaptive radiation in an insular environment. Many have been driven to extinction since the first humans arrived in Hawaii, with extinctions increasing over the last two centuries following European discovery of the islands, with habitat destruction and especially invasive species being the main causes.[1][2]
Taxonomy
Before the introduction of molecular phylogenetic techniques, the relationship of the Hawaiian honeycreepers to other bird species was controversial. The honeycreepers were sometimes categorized as a
The Hawaiian honeycreepers are the sister taxon to the Carpodacus rosefinches. Their ancestors are thought to have been from Asia and diverged from Carpodacus about 7.2 million years ago, and they are thought to have first arrived and radiated on the Hawaiian Islands between 5.7-7.2 million years ago, which was roughly the same time that the islands of Ni'ihau and Kauai formed. The lineage of the recently extinct po'ouli (Melamprosops) was the most ancient of the Hawaiian honeycreeper lineages to survive to recent times, diverging about 5.7-5.8 million years ago. The lineage containing Oreomystis and Paroreomyza was the second to diverge, diverging about a million years after the po'ouli's lineage. Most of the other lineages with highly distinctive morphologies are thought to have originated in the mid-late Pliocene, after the formation of Oahu but prior to the formation of Maui. Due to this, Oahu likely played a key role in the formation of diverse morphologies among honeycreepers, allowing for cycles of colonization and speciation between Kauai and Oahu.[7]
A phylogenetic tree of the recent Hawaiian honeycreeper lineages is shown here. Genera or clades with question marks (?) are of controversial or uncertain taxonomic placement.[7][8]
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The classification of Paroreomyza and Oreomystis as sister genera and forming the second most basal group is based on genetic and molecular evidence, and has been affirmed by numerous studies; however, when morphological evidence only is used, Paroreomyza is instead the second most basal genus, with Oreomystis being the third most basal genus and more closely allied with the derived Hawaiian honeycreepers, as Oreomystis shares traits with the derived honeycreepers, such as a squared-off tongue and a distinct musty odor, that Paroreomyza does not. This does not align with the genetic evidence supporting Paroreomyza and Oreomystis as sister genera, and it would be seemingly impossible for only Paroreomyza to have lost the distinctive traits but Oreomystis and all core honeycreepers to have retained or convergently evolved them, thus presenting a taxonomic conundrum.[8]
Viridonia (containing the greater ʻamakihi) may be associated with or even synonymous with the genus Aidemedia (containing the prehistoric icterid-like and sickle-billed gapers), and has the most debated taxonomy; it was long classified within the "greater Hemignathus" radiation (a now-paraphyletic grouping containing species formerly lumped within Hemignathus, including Hemignathus, Akialoa, and Chlorodrepanis) and while some sources speculate it as being sister to Chlorodrepanis (containing the lesser ʻamakihis), other sources speculate it may be a sister genus to the genus Loxops (containing the 'akepas, ʻakekeʻe and ʻalawī).[8]
Characteristics
Nearly all species of Hawaiian honeycreepers have been noted as having a unique odor to their plumage, described by many researchers as "rather like that of old canvas tents".[9][10]
Today, the flowers of the native ʻōhiʻa (Metrosideros polymorpha) are favored by a number of nectarivorous honeycreepers. The wide range of bill shapes in this group, from thick, finch-like bills to slender, down-curved bills for probing flowers have arisen through adaptive radiation, where an ancestral finch has evolved to fill a large number of ecological niches. Some 20 species of Hawaiian honeycreeper have become extinct in the recent past, and many more in earlier times, following the arrival of humans who introduced non-native animals (ex: rats, pigs, goats, cows) and converted habitat for agriculture.[11][12]
Genera and species
The term "prehistoric" indicates species that became extinct between the initial human settlement of Hawaiʻi (i.e., from the late 1st millennium AD on) and European contact in 1778.
Subfamily Carduelinae
- Drepanidini
- Genus Aidemedia Olson & James, 1991 – straight thin bills, insectivores[13]
- Aidemedia chascax prehistoric)
- Aidemedia lutetiae prehistoric)
- Aidemedia zanclops prehistoric)
- Aidemedia chascax
- Genus Akialoa Olson & James, 1995 – pointed, long and down-curved bills, insectivorous or nectarivorous
- Akialoa ellisiana extinct, 1940)
- Akialoa lanaiensis extinct, 1892)
- Akialoa stejnegeri extinct, 1969)
- Akialoa obscura extinct, 1940)
- Akialoa upupirostris – prehistoric)
- Akialoa ellisiana
- Genus Chloridops Wilson, 1888 – thick-billed, hard seed (e.g. Myoporum sandwicense) specialist
- Chloridops kona extinct, 1894)
- Chloridops regiskongi – prehistoric)
- Chloridops wahi – prehistoric)
- Chloridops kona
- Genus Chlorodrepanis Olson & James, 1995 – pointed bills, insectivorous and nectarivorous
- Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri Pratt, 1989 – Kauaʻi ʻamakihi
- Chlorodrepanis flava Bloxam, 1827 – Oʻahu ʻamakihi
- Chlorodrepanis virens Cabanis, 1851 – Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi
- Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri
- Genus Ciridops Newton, 1892 – finch-like, fed on fruit of Pritchardia species
- Ciridops anna extinct, 1892 or 1937)
- Ciridops tenax prehistoric)
- Ciridops anna
- Genus Drepanis Temminck, 1820 – down-curved bills, nectarivores
- Drepanis funerea extinct, 1907)
- Drepanis pacifica extinct, 1898)
- Drepanis coccinea ʻiʻiwi
- Drepanis funerea
- Genus Dysmorodrepanis Perkins, 1919 – pincer-like bill, possibly snail specialist
- Dysmorodrepanis munroi extinct, 1918)
- Dysmorodrepanis munroi
- Genus Hemignathus Lichtenstein, 1839 – pointed or long and down-curved bills, insectivorous
- Hemignathus affinis – extinct, 1995–1998)
- Hemignathus hanapepe – extinct, 1998)
- Hemignathus lucidus – extinct, 1837)
- Hemignathus vorpalis prehistoric)[14]
- Hemignathus wilsoni ʻakiapolaʻau
- Hemignathus affinis –
- Genus Himatione – thin-billed, nectarivorous
- Himatione sanguinea ʻapapane
- Himatione fraithii – extinct, 1923)
- Himatione sanguinea
- Genus Loxioides Oustalet, 1877 – finch-like, Fabales seed specialists
- Genus Loxops – small pointed bills with the tips slightly crossed, insectivorous
- Loxops caeruleirostris ‘akeke‘e
- Loxops coccineus Gmelin, 1789 – Hawaiʻi ʻakepa
- Loxops ochraceus extinct, 1988)
- Loxops wolstenholmei extinct, 1990s)
- Loxops mana Wilson, 1891 – Hawaiʻi creeper
- Loxops caeruleirostris
- Genus Magumma - small pointed bills, insectivorous and nectarivorous
- Magumma parva ʻanianiau
- Magumma parva
- Genus Melamprosops Casey & Jacobi, 1974 – short pointed bill, insectivorous and snail specialist
- Melamprosops phaeosoma Casey & Jacobi, 1974 – poʻouli (extinct, 2004)
- Genus Oreomystis Wilson, 1891 – short pointed bills, insectivorous
- Oreomystis bairdi ʻakikiki
- Oreomystis bairdi
- Genus Orthiospiza – large weak bill, possibly soft seed or fruit specialist?
- Orthiospiza howarthi prehistoric)
- Orthiospiza howarthi
- Genus Palmeria Rothschild, 1893 – thin-billed, nectarivorous, favors Metrosideros polymorpha
- Palmeria dolei ʻakohekohe
- Palmeria dolei
- Genus Paroreomyza – short pointed bills, insectivorous
- Paroreomyza maculata Cabanis, 1850 – extinct, early 1990s?)
- Paroreomyza flammea (extinct, 1963)
- Paroreomyza montana
- Paroreomyza montana montana extinct, 1937)
- Paroreomyza montana newtoni (Rothschild, 1893) – Maui ‘alauahio
- Paroreomyza montana montana
- Paroreomyza maculata Cabanis, 1850 –
- Genus Pseudonestor – parrot-like bill, probes wood for insect larvae
- Pseudonestor xanthophrys Rothschild, 1893 – Maui parrotbill or kiwikiu
- Genus Psittirostra – slightly hooked bill, Freycinetia arborea fruit specialist
- Psittirostra psittacea extinct, 1998?)
- Psittirostra psittacea
- Genus Rhodacanthis – large-billed, granivorous, legume specialists[15]
- Rhodacanthis flaviceps Rothschild, 1892 – extinct, 1891)
- Rhodacanthis forfex prehistoric)
- Rhodacanthis litotes prehistoric)
- Rhodacanthis palmeri Rothschild, 1892 – extinct, 1896)
- Rhodacanthis flaviceps Rothschild, 1892 –
- Genus Telespiza Wilson, 1890 – finch-like, granivorous, opportunistic scavengers
- Telespiza cantans Wilson, 1890 – Laysan finch
- Telespiza persecutrix prehistoric)
- Telespiza ultima Bryan, 1917 – Nihoa finch
- Telespiza ypsilon prehistoric)
- Genus Vangulifer – flat rounded bills, possibly caught flying insects
- Vangulifer mirandus – strange-billed finch (prehistoric)
- Vangulifer neophasis – thin-billed finch (prehistoric)
- Vangulifer mirandus – strange-billed finch (
- Genus Viridonia
- Viridonia sagittirostris extinct, 1901)
- Viridonia sagittirostris
- Genus Xestospiza James & Oslon, 1991 – cone-shaped bills, possibly insectivorous
- Xestospiza conica James & Olson, 1991 – prehistoric)
- Xestospiza fastigialis James & Olson, 1991 – prehistoric)
- Xestospiza conica James & Olson, 1991 –
- Genus Aidemedia Olson & James, 1991 – straight thin bills, insectivores[13]
Hawaiian honeycreepers were formerly classified into three tribes – Hemignathini, Psittirostrini, and Drepanidini – but they are not currently classified as such.
Conservation
See also
Cited references
- PMID 22018543.
- ^ PMID 22023825.
- ISBN 978-0-7136-8695-1
- ISBN 978-0-691-11701-0.
- ^ AOU Check-list of North American Birds Accessed 26 December 2007
- ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Finches, euphonias". World Bird List Version 5.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ PMID 22018543.
- ^ a b c "A consensus taxonomy for the Hawaiian honeycreepers » Malama Mauna Kea Library Catalog". www.malamamaunakea.org. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ISBN 978-0-19-854653-5.
- JSTOR 1368806.
- JSTOR 40166794.
- JSTOR 40166713.
- ISBN 9781472905741. The genus Aidemedia is named in honor of Joan Aidem.
- S2CID 41112065.
- S2CID 40057425.
- ^ . Retrieved 4 November 2015.
- ^ Jacobi, James D.; Carter T. Atkinson (September 28, 2000). "Hawaii's Endemic Birds". U.S. Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
Other references
- Groth, J. G. 1998. Molecular phylogeny of the cardueline finches and Hawaiian honeycreepers. Ostrich, 69: 401.
External links
- Hawaiian Honeycreepers (Drepanididae) information, including 4 species with videos and 11 with photographs at the Internet Bird Collection