Mohoidae

Prachtmoho ( Moho nobilis)

The Mohoidae are one only in 2008 established the family of songbirds ( Passeres ), are among the five extinct only in modern times nectar- eating birds that lived endemic to Hawaii. You have previously been placed on the honey -eaters ( Meliphagidae ).

In a phylogenetic study in which we examined DNA sequences from museum specimens, it was found that the Mohoidae are not related to the Meliphagidae, but with the waxwings ( Bombycillidae ), the Seidenschnäppern ( Ptilogonatidae ) and the Palm talkers ( dulus dominicus ) a form monophyletic taxon. The Mohoidae parted evolutionary with their arrival in Hawaii before 14 to 17 million years from their relatives. The relationship with the waxwings and the other two taxa also means that they are Holarctic and Neotropical origin and not from the South Pacific.

The similarity with the honey -eaters has evolved convergently in adaptation to the diet. These adjustments include a long curved beak, a long tongue with a brush-like tip to take nectar and strong legs and feet, to hold on to the food intake.

Mohoidae is the only latter day completely extinct bird family.

Genera and species

  • Genus Chaetoptila P. L. Sclater, 1871 Narrow spring honey eater ( Chaetoptila angustipluma ) Peale, 1848
  • Krausschwanzmoho ( Moho apicalis ) Gould, 1860
  • Ohrbüschelmoho ( Moho bishopi ) Rothschild, 1893
  • Prachtmoho ( Moho nobilis) Cassin, 1855
  • Schuppenkehlmoho ( Moho braccatus ) Merrem, 1786

Source

  • Fleischer, Robert C.; Helen F. James; Storrs L. Olson: Convergent Evolution of Hawaiian and Australo - Pacific Honeyeaters from Distant Songbird Ancestors. Current Biology ( Cell Press ) 18 ( 24 ), 2008: pp. 1927-1931. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19084408.
Philip Sclater Oʻahu ʻŌʻō John Gould Walter Rothschild, 2nd Baron Rothschild John Cassin Blasius Merrem
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