Melithreptus
Encyclopedia
Melithreptus is a genus
of bird
in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. Its members are native to Australia. It is generally considered to contain seven species, although some authors have classified the related Blue-faced Honeyeater within this genus.
The genus was originally defined by French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
in 1817. William John Swainson had coined the term Eidopsarus in 1837. He named the Black-headed Honeyeater
Eidopsarus affinis in 1839, which Gould, likely unaware, described as Melithreptus melanocephalus in 1844.
It has been further subdivided into two subgenera, Melithreptus and Eidopsarus based on foraging habits. Those of the former subgenus forage for insects in foliage or canopy, congregate in larger flocks, and are found in more open dry sclerophyll forests. They also have smaller feet and a less prominent or missing nuchal bar. Members of the subgenus Eidopsarus forage by probing for insects in bark of tree trunks and branches, generally in eucalypt forest and rainforest, and travel in small family groups. They have sturdier legs and feet and a more prominent nuchal band.
Biologist Allen Keast studied the genus extensively across Australia, and noted that a member of each group were found together in many parts of the country, with the trunk-foraging species averaging 10% larger - thus the smaller lunatus occurs with the larger gularis, and this is most exaggerated in Tasmania, where the difference between affinis and validirostris is even more marked. Keast proposed that the two species were diversifying into other niches in the absence of other mainland trunk-feeding species, shriketits, treecreepers
and sitella
, in the case of validirostris, and smaller species with affinis. Furthermore, the bill of the shorter-billed taxon in areas where the trunk feeder was absent grew longer, as chloropsis did in Western Australia.
Molecular markers show genus split from the ancestors of the Blue-faced Honeyeater somewhere between 12.8 and 6.4 million years ago in the Miocene
epoch. That species differs from them in its much larger size, brighter plumage and more gregarious nature and larger patch of bare facial skin.
The White-throated Honeyeater
split off between 9 and 5 million years ago, independently of the other three members of the subgenus Melithreptus.
The Strong-billed Honeyeater separated from the other members of Eidopsarus between 6.7 and 3.4 million years ago.
Classically, six species have been recognised, but evidence published in 2010 confirms the distinct status of the Western White-naped Honeyeater
. In former years, the Golden-backed Honeyeater (M. laetior) of northern Australia was considered distinct, but has a broad band over overlap (with intermediate forms) with the Black-chinned Honeyeater
and is hence considered a subspecies of it.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of bird
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. Its members are native to Australia. It is generally considered to contain seven species, although some authors have classified the related Blue-faced Honeyeater within this genus.
The genus was originally defined by French ornithologist Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot
Louis Jean Pierre Vieillot was a French ornithologist.Vieillot described a large number of birds for the first time, especially those he encountered during the time he spent in the West Indies and North America, and 26 genera established by him are still in use...
in 1817. William John Swainson had coined the term Eidopsarus in 1837. He named the Black-headed Honeyeater
Black-headed Honeyeater
The Black-headed Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.-Taxonomy:The Black-headed Honeyeater was described in 1839 as ...
Eidopsarus affinis in 1839, which Gould, likely unaware, described as Melithreptus melanocephalus in 1844.
It has been further subdivided into two subgenera, Melithreptus and Eidopsarus based on foraging habits. Those of the former subgenus forage for insects in foliage or canopy, congregate in larger flocks, and are found in more open dry sclerophyll forests. They also have smaller feet and a less prominent or missing nuchal bar. Members of the subgenus Eidopsarus forage by probing for insects in bark of tree trunks and branches, generally in eucalypt forest and rainforest, and travel in small family groups. They have sturdier legs and feet and a more prominent nuchal band.
Biologist Allen Keast studied the genus extensively across Australia, and noted that a member of each group were found together in many parts of the country, with the trunk-foraging species averaging 10% larger - thus the smaller lunatus occurs with the larger gularis, and this is most exaggerated in Tasmania, where the difference between affinis and validirostris is even more marked. Keast proposed that the two species were diversifying into other niches in the absence of other mainland trunk-feeding species, shriketits, treecreepers
Australasian treecreeper
There are 7 species of Australasian treecreeper in the passerine bird family Climacteridae. They are medium-small, mostly brown birds with patterning on their underparts, and all are endemic to Australia-New Guinea. They resemble, but are not closely related to, the Holarctic treecreepers...
and sitella
Varied Sittella
The Varied Sittella, Daphoenositta chrysoptera is a small, around 10–11 cm long, songbird native to Australia and New Guinea. It is also known as the Australian Nuthatch, Orange-winged Sittella and the Barkpecker. Its crown and head can be white, grey or black, and its body is either whitish...
, in the case of validirostris, and smaller species with affinis. Furthermore, the bill of the shorter-billed taxon in areas where the trunk feeder was absent grew longer, as chloropsis did in Western Australia.
Molecular markers show genus split from the ancestors of the Blue-faced Honeyeater somewhere between 12.8 and 6.4 million years ago in the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
epoch. That species differs from them in its much larger size, brighter plumage and more gregarious nature and larger patch of bare facial skin.
The White-throated Honeyeater
White-throated Honeyeater
The White-throated Honeyeater, Melithreptus albogularis is native to New Guinea, and eastern and northern Australia. It is 11.5 - 14.5cm long, olive green above and white below, with a black head, a white patch over the eye and a white stripe at the back of the neck.- Similar species :Western...
split off between 9 and 5 million years ago, independently of the other three members of the subgenus Melithreptus.
The Strong-billed Honeyeater separated from the other members of Eidopsarus between 6.7 and 3.4 million years ago.
Classically, six species have been recognised, but evidence published in 2010 confirms the distinct status of the Western White-naped Honeyeater
Western White-naped Honeyeater
The Western White-naped Honeyeater , also known as the Swan River Honeyeater, is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to south-western Australia.-Etymology:...
. In former years, the Golden-backed Honeyeater (M. laetior) of northern Australia was considered distinct, but has a broad band over overlap (with intermediate forms) with the Black-chinned Honeyeater
Black-chinned Honeyeater
The Black-chinned Honeyeater is a species of passerine bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is endemic to Australia. Two subspecies are recognised. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical dry forests.The Black-chinned Honeyeater was first described by John Gould in 1837...
and is hence considered a subspecies of it.
Subgenus Melithreptus
- Black-headed HoneyeaterBlack-headed HoneyeaterThe Black-headed Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is one of two members of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.-Taxonomy:The Black-headed Honeyeater was described in 1839 as ...
(Melithreptus affinis) - White-naped HoneyeaterWhite-naped HoneyeaterThe White-naped Honeyeater Melithreptus lunatus is a passerine bird of the Honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to eastern Australia. Birds from southwestern Australia have been shown to be a distinct species, the Western White-naped Honeyeater, and the eastern birds more closely related to the...
(Melithreptus lunatus) - Western White-naped HoneyeaterWestern White-naped HoneyeaterThe Western White-naped Honeyeater , also known as the Swan River Honeyeater, is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae native to south-western Australia.-Etymology:...
(Melithreptus chloropsis) - White-throated HoneyeaterWhite-throated HoneyeaterThe White-throated Honeyeater, Melithreptus albogularis is native to New Guinea, and eastern and northern Australia. It is 11.5 - 14.5cm long, olive green above and white below, with a black head, a white patch over the eye and a white stripe at the back of the neck.- Similar species :Western...
(Melithreptus albogularis)
Subgenus Eidopsarus
- Brown-headed HoneyeaterBrown-headed HoneyeaterThe Brown-headed Honeyeater is a species of passerine bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is endemic to Australia. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation....
(Melithreptus brevirostris) - Black-chinned HoneyeaterBlack-chinned HoneyeaterThe Black-chinned Honeyeater is a species of passerine bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is endemic to Australia. Two subspecies are recognised. Its natural habitats are temperate forests and subtropical or tropical dry forests.The Black-chinned Honeyeater was first described by John Gould in 1837...
(Melithreptus gularis) - Strong-billed HoneyeaterStrong-billed HoneyeaterThe Strong-billed Honeyeater is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family.It is one of two species of the genus Melithreptus endemic to Tasmania.Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-Taxonomy:...
(Melithreptus validirostris)