Tag Archives: Riccordia elegans (Gould)

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.

*********************

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

*********************

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

(public domain)

*********************

edited: 30.10.2020