Zosterops

Greymantle Brillenvogel ( Zosterops lateralis)

Zosterops is with about 76 species, the most species-rich genus within the family of white-eyes. It is traditionally considered part of the independent family of white-eyes. However, recent DNA studies ( Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006) suggest that the white-eyes are closely related to the babblers.

The distribution area extends from the Afrotropical, on the oriental to the Australasian ecoregion. The most striking feature of the white-eyes is a white eye-ring. In some species, but it can also be black or omissions. The size of each species varies 8-15 centimeters.

System

Many glasses birds have not been sufficiently explored. Thus the reins glasses bird ( Zosterops conspicillatus ) in 1969 by the Dutch zoologist Gerlof Fokko Mees than the nominate of Guam Z. c. conspicillatus with the six subspecies Z. c. saypani ( Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan ), Z. c. rotensis (Rota ), Z. c. semperi ( Palau Islands), Z. c. owstoni ( Chuuk ), Z. c. takatsukasai (Pohnpei ), and Z. c. classified hypolais ( Yap ). Mees made ​​the distinguishing characteristics determined mainly on the size and plumage coloration. 1987 revised the American ornithologist Harold Douglas Pratt this system and shared the reins Brillenvogel into three separate species Zosterops conspicillatus, Zosterops semperi and Zosterops hypolais on. Pratt's classification is based primarily on differences in song and plumage coloration. In addition, Pratt argues that conspicillatus Z., Z. and Z. semperi hypolais probably do not represent a monophyletic group due to the complexity of their songs. Z. conspicillatus and Z. hypolais have very complex songs, suggesting a Southeast Asian ancestry according to Pratt's hypothesis. Z. semperi has a simple singing that tend the types of Melanesian islands. Based on mtDNA analyzes ( Slikas et. Al. 2000) was found to differ, the DNA sequences of the Rota - glasses bird of which the reins glasses bird, so that this taxon is now considered a separate species.

The following taxa are known:

  • Lord Howe Greymantle glasses bird ( Zosterops lateralis tephropleurus )

† = extinct taxon

838264
de