Tag Archives: Chlorostilbon

Chlorostilbon elegans (Gould)

Gould’s Emerald (Chlorostilbon elegans)

Gould’s Emerald, also known as the Caribbean Emerald, was described in 1860 based on a single specimen of unknown origin; however, it is somehow believed to have originated from the northern Bahamas or from Jamaica.

Thes species was thought to be a hybrid until 1999, when its status as a distinct species could be proven. [1]

Since no additional individual could ever be traced, Gould’s Emerald is clearly extinct now.

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References:

[1] André-Alexander Weller: On types of trochilids in The Natural History Museum, Tring II. Re-evaluation of Erythronota (?) elegans Gould 1860: a presumed extinct species in the genus Chlorostilbon. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 119(3): 197–202. 1999

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Depiction from: ‘John Gould: A monograph of the Trochilidae, or family of humming-birds. London: printed by Taylor and Francis 1849-1861’

(public domain)

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edited: 30.10.2020

Chlorostilbon bracei Lawrence

Brace’s Emerald (Chlorostilbon bracei)

Originally, Brace’s Emerald was only ever known by a single male specimen that had been collected in 1877 on the island of New Providence, Bahamas; this was long ignored completely and was considered identical with the Cuban Emerald (Chlorostilbon ricordii (Gervais)) which also inhabits the Bahamas. In 1945 it was then considered to be a subspecies of the Cuban Emerald; only in 1987 it was recognized as having been a completely distinct species.

Brace’s Emerald is now also known from fossil bones that were recovered from Pleistocene deposits on New Providence in the 1980s; it is now understood as a Pleistocene relict that had survived into modern times only to disappear completely after its discovery.

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References:

[1] Gary R. Graves; Storrs L. Olson: Chlorostilbon bracei Lawrence, an extinct species of hummingbird from new Providence Island, Bahamas. The Auk 104: 296-302. 1987

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Depiction: Alexander Lang

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edited: 30.10.2020