Hawaiian honeyeater

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Mohoidae
File:Moho apicalis.png
Moho apicalis and Chaetoptila angustipluma
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Superfamily: {{{1}}}
Family: {{{1}}}
Fleischer, James and Olson, 2008

Mohoidae is a family of Hawaiian species of recently extinct, nectarivorous songbirds in the genera Moho (ʻŌʻōs) and Chaetoptila (Kioea). These now extinct birds form their own family, representing the only complete extinction of an entire avian family in modern times,[1] when the disputed family Turnagridae is disregarded for being invalid.

Until recently, these birds were thought to belong to the family Meliphagidae (honeyeaters) because they looked and acted so similar to members of that family, including many morphological details. A 2008 study argued, on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of DNA from museum specimens, that the genera Moho and Chaetoptila do not belong to the Meliphagidae but instead belong to a group that includes the waxwings and the Palmchat; they appear especially close to the silky-flycatchers. Hawaiian honeyeaters did not evolve from the similar looking Australasian honeyeaters, but instead represent a striking case of convergent evolution.[1] The authors proposed a family, Mohoidae, for these two extinct genera.[2]

Species[edit]

Family: Mohoidae

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Lovette, Irby J. (2008). "Convergent Evolution: Raising a Family from the Dead". Current Biology. 18 (24): R1132–4. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.11.006. PMID 19108768.
  2. ^ Fleischer, Robert C.; James, Helen F.; Olson, Storrs L. (2008). "Convergent Evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific Honeyeaters from Distant Songbird Ancestors". Current Biology. 18 (24): 1927–31. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.051. PMID 19084408.


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