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Moho (genus)
Encyclopedia
Moho is a genus
of extinct bird
s in the Hawaiian bird family, Mohoidae
, that were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands
. Members of the genus are known as Ōō in the Hawaiian language
. Their plumage
was generally striking glossy black; some species had yellowish axillary tufts and other black outer feather
s. Most of these species became extinct by habitat loss and by extensive hunting because their plumage were used for the creation of precious aahu alii (robes) and ahu ula (capes) for alii
(Hawaiian nobility
). The Kauai Ōō was the last species of this genus to become extinct, probably a victim of avian malaria
.
Until recently, the birds in this genus were thought to belong to the family Meliphagidae (honeyeater
s) 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 waxwing
s and the Palmchat
; they appear especially close to the silky-flycatcher
s. The authors proposed a family, Mohoidae, for these two extinct genera.
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 extinct 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...
s in the Hawaiian bird family, Mohoidae
Mohoidae
Mohoidae is a family of Hawaiian species of recently extinct, nectarivorous songbirds in the genera Moho and Chaetoptila . These now extinct birds form their own family, representing the only complete extinction of an entire avian family in modern times, when the disputed family Turnagridae is...
, that were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
. Members of the genus are known as Ōō in the Hawaiian language
Hawaiian language
The Hawaiian language is a Polynesian language that takes its name from Hawaii, the largest island in the tropical North Pacific archipelago where it developed. Hawaiian, along with English, is an official language of the state of Hawaii...
. Their plumage
Plumage
Plumage refers both to the layer of feathers that cover a bird and the pattern, colour, and arrangement of those feathers. The pattern and colours of plumage vary between species and subspecies and can also vary between different age classes, sexes, and season. Within species there can also be a...
was generally striking glossy black; some species had yellowish axillary tufts and other black outer feather
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some non-avian theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They...
s. Most of these species became extinct by habitat loss and by extensive hunting because their plumage were used for the creation of precious aahu alii (robes) and ahu ula (capes) for alii
Ali'i
Alii is a word in the Polynesian language denoting chiefly status in ancient Hawaii and the Samoa Islands. A similar word with the same concept is found in other Polynesian societies. In the Cook Islands, an ariki is a high chief and the House of Ariki is a parliamentary house...
(Hawaiian nobility
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
). The Kauai Ōō was the last species of this genus to become extinct, probably a victim of avian malaria
Avian malaria
Avian malaria is a parasitic disease of birds.-Etiology:Avian malaria is most notably caused by Plasmodium relictum, a protist that infects birds in tropical regions...
.
Until recently, the birds in this genus were thought to belong to the family Meliphagidae (honeyeater
Honeyeater
The honeyeaters are a large and diverse family of small to medium sized birds most common in Australia and New Guinea, but also found in New Zealand, the Pacific islands as far east as Samoa and Tonga, and the islands to the north and west of New Guinea known as Wallacea...
s) because they looked and acted so similar to members of that family, including many morphological
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
details. A 2008 study argued, on the basis of a phylogenetic
Phylogenetics
In biology, phylogenetics is the study of evolutionary relatedness among groups of organisms , which is discovered through molecular sequencing data and morphological data matrices...
analysis of DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
from museum specimens, that the genera Moho and Chaetoptila do not belong to the Meliphagidae but instead belong to a group that includes the waxwing
Waxwing
The waxwings form the genus Bombycilla of passerine birds. According to most authorities, this is the only genus placed in the family Bombycillidae.-Description:Waxwings are characterised by soft silky plumage...
s and the Palmchat
Palmchat
The Palmchat is a small, long-tailed passerine bird, the only species in the genus Dulus and the family Dulidae. It is thought to be related to the waxwings, family Bombycillidae, and is sometimes classified with that group...
; they appear especially close to the silky-flycatcher
Silky-flycatcher
The silky-flycatchers are a small family, Ptilogonatidae , of passerine birds. The family contains only four species in three genera. They were formerly lumped with waxwings and Hypocolius in the family Bombycillidae, and they are listed in that family by the Sibley-Monroe checklist...
s. The authors proposed a family, Mohoidae, for these two extinct genera.
Taxonomy
The following species belong to this genus:| Image | Common Name | Latin Name | Extinct since |
 |
Oahu Ōō | Moho apicalis | ca. 1837 |
 |
Molokai Ōō or Bishop's Ōō |
Moho bishopi | ca. 1904 |
 |
Hawaii Ōō | Moho nobilis | ca. 1934 |
 |
Kauai Ōō | Moho braccatus | ca. 1987 |
External links
- Short description of the Moho species (French)Ōō |work=Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy |publisher=State of Hawaii |date=2005-10-01 |accessdate=}}i Ōō |work=Hawaii’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy |publisher=State of Hawaii |date=2005-10-01 |accessdate=}}
- Naturalis - Hawaii Ōō