Hemignathus

Hemignathus
Hemignathus lucidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Tribe: Hemignathini
Genus: Hemignathus (but see text)
Lichtenstein, 1839
Species

See text

Synonyms

Akialoa
Heterorhynchus
Magumma
(but see text)

Hemignathus is a Hawaiian honeycreeper genus in the finch family, Fringillidae. These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Many of its species became extinct during the 19th and 20th centuries due to a combination of habitat destruction, introduced predators, and most importantly mosquito-borne diseases. Some others became extinct in prehistoric times, when Polynesian settlers deforested the lowlands for agriculture.

Systematics

(Sub)Genus Hemignathus sensu stricto - pointed or long and downcurved bills, insectivores or nectarivores. The Nukupu‘u:

(Sub)Genus Heterorhynchus - long and downcurved upper and short and stout lower bill, probes for insects


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.