Tag Archives: Sangihe Islands

Chrysopelea rhodopleuron ssp. viridis Fischer

Sangihe Flying Snake (Chrysopelea rhodopleuron ssp. viridis)

The Sangihe Flying Snake was described in 1880 from a single specimen which was subsequently destroyed during World War II; it was originally described as a distinct species. This form was apparently restricted to the island of Sangihe, the largest of the Sangihe Islands, Indonesia (not Sulawesi as is often stated).

The snake reached a length of 1,4 m, it was bright green above and slightly paler below, parts of the head were yellowish colored. [1]

The status of this form is not known but it appears to be extinct.

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References:

[1] J. G. Fischer: Neue Amphibien und Reptilien. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 215-227. 1880

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Depiction from: ‘J. G. Fischer: Neue Amphibien und Reptilien. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 46(1): 215-227. 1880′

(not in copyright)

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edited: 19.08.2022

Eos histrio ssp. histrio (Statius Müller)

Red-and-blue Lory (Eos histrio ssp. histrio)

The Red-and-blue Lory is divided into two respectively three (if accepted) subspecies, two of which being extinct now.

The nominate was restricted to some of the Sangihe Islands, Indonesia, it reached a size of about 31 cm, it was bright red with several bright blue patches.

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Depiction from: ‘G. D. Rowley: Domicella coccinea (Latham). Ornithological miscellany 3: 123-129. 1878’ 

(public domain)

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edited: 21.02.2020

Ceyx sangirensis (A. B. Meyer & Wiglesworth)

Sangihe Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx sangirensis)

The Sangihe Dwarf Kingfisher was described in 1898; it was for a long time treated as a subspecies of the Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax (Schlegel)) (see depiction), a small, about 12 cm large, colorful bird that itself inhabits the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is now considered a full species again.

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The Sangihe Dwarf Kingfisher, as its name implies, is, or maybe was, restricted to the island of Sangihe Besar in the Sangihe Islands off northern Sulawesi. 

The species differed from the Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher mainly by its slightly larger size as well as by its crown in which the blue bars are larger and more lustrous, by its blackish instead of lilac superciliary region and by its more lilac rump and wings. [1]

The Sangihe Dwarf Kingfisher was last seen in 1997, and given the fact that its home island is now almost completely deforested, the chances for any population to have survived until today are very low – it is possibly extinct. 

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Sulawesi Dwarf Kingfisher (Ceyx fallax (Schlegel))

Depiction from: ‘Richard Bowdler Sharpe: Monograph of the Alcedinidae, or family of kingfishers. London: published by the author 1868-1871’

(public domain)

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References:

[1] C. Hilary Fry; Kathie Fry: Kingfishers, bee-eaters, & Rollers. Helm 1992
[2] N. j. Collar; R. W. Martin: Sangihe Dwarf Kingfisher Ceyx sangirensis: a distinct and extinct endemic species. Bulletin of the British Ornithologists’ Club 144(1): 76-90. 2024

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edited: 14.03.2024