Marquesan monarch

Marquesan monarch
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Monarchidae
Genus: Pomarea
Species: P. mendozae
Binomial name
Pomarea mendozae
(Hartlaub, 1854)
Subspecies

See text

The Marquesan monarch (Pomarea mendozae) is a species of bird in the Monarchidae family. It is endemic to French Polynesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized with one of them now extinct:[2]

Additionally, two former subspecies were re-classified as separate species in 2012.[4]

Distribution and Population

The Marquesan monarch was once fairly common and wide spread in the Marquesas inhabiting islands such as Ua Pu, Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Tahuata, and Mohotani but is now restricted to Mohotani. An ornithological study on Mohotani in 2000 estimated that there are approximately 80-125 (formerly 200-350 pairs in 1975) left on the small island.

Ecology

Pomarea mendozae is mainly an insectivorous bird who's habitat is in forest valleys in variety of different altitudes. The species mainly prefers lowland forest but, most of that habitat was destroyed. Adults prefer areas of dense vegetation while immature birds often prefer shrubby vegetation in dry areas.

Threats

The rare bird faces further endangerment from hunting by feral cats and the polynesian rat (both of which are non-native introduced species to the island of Mohotani). All the Marquesas Islands have been damaged heavily by intense grazing and fire, and much of the original dry forest has been reduced to grassland while upland forest is now reduced to small forest patches.

References


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