Tahiti Reed Warbler
Encyclopedia
The Tahiti Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus caffer) is a songbird
in the genus Acrocephalus
. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler
" assemblage (Sylviidae), it is now in the newly recognized marsh-warbler family
Acrocephalidae
. It is endemic to French Polynesia
, and is sometimes known as the Polynesian Warbler.
There are numerous subspecies
, but some have been elevated to full species
rank in recent times. The nominate race Acrocephalus caffer caffer - the Tahiti Reed-warbler proper - is restricted to Tahiti
, with a population of less than a thousand individuals. Other races include:
As a whole, the Polynesian Warbler was classified as a Vulnerable species
by the IUCN. But new research has shown it to be rarer than it was believed, not the least because some populations have been split off this species. Consequently, it is uplisted to Endangered status in 2008.
Songbird
A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds . Another name that is sometimes seen as scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin oscen, "a songbird"...
in the genus Acrocephalus
Acrocephalus
The Acrocephalus warblers are small, insectivorous passerine birds belonging to the genus Acrocephalus. Formerly in the paraphyletic Old World warbler assemblage, they are now separated as the namesake of the marsh- and tree-warbler family Acrocephalidae...
. Formerly placed in the "Old World warbler
Old World warbler
The "Old World Warblers" is the name used to describe a large group of birds formerly grouped together in the bird family Sylviidae. The family held over 400 species in over 70 genera, and were the source of much taxonomic confusion. Two families were split out initially, the cisticolas into...
" assemblage (Sylviidae), it is now in the newly recognized marsh-warbler family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Acrocephalidae
Acrocephalidae
Acrocephalidae is a family of oscine passerine birds, in the superfamily Sylvioidea....
. It is endemic to French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
, and is sometimes known as the Polynesian Warbler.
There are numerous subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
, but some have been elevated to full species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
rank in recent times. The nominate race Acrocephalus caffer caffer - the Tahiti Reed-warbler proper - is restricted to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
, with a population of less than a thousand individuals. Other races include:
- Eiao Polynesian WarblerEiao Polynesian WarblerThe Eiao Polynesian Warbler is a subspecies of the Polynesian Warbler found only in the dry upland forest on Eiao in the northern Marquesas Islands....
, Acrocephalus caffer aquilonis - Hatutaa Polynesian WarblerHatutaa Polynesian WarblerThe Hatutaa Polynesian Warbler , also called the Hatutu Polynesian Warbler or the Long-billed Polynesian Warbler, is a subspecies of the Polynesian Warbler. The subspecies is endemic to the island of Hatutu, and one of the primary breeding species in the Hatutu Nature Reserve....
, Acrocephalus caffer postremus - Huahine Polynesian Warbler, Acrocephalus caffer garretti - extinct (19th century?)
- Raiatea Polynesian Warbler, Acrocephalus caffer musae - extinct (19th century?)
As a whole, the Polynesian Warbler was classified as a Vulnerable species
Vulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
by the IUCN. But new research has shown it to be rarer than it was believed, not the least because some populations have been split off this species. Consequently, it is uplisted to Endangered status in 2008.