Tag Archives: Zosteropidae

Zosterops nehrkorni Blasius

Sangihe White-eye (Zosterops nehrkorni)

The Sangihe White-eye was described in 1888 based on a single specimen that was collected two years prior, it is, or maybe rather was, endemic to the island of Sangihe, Indonesia. This sole specimen was later thought to be lost but was rediscovered in 1990. 

The species was later found out to be restricted to a tiny, higly threatened patch of remaining forest on this largely deforested island. 
As far as I know, the last confirmed record of this species was in February 1999, when a bird was heard singing, however, the bird itself was not seen. [1]

The Sangihe White-eye apparently now joins the ever-growing list of extinct species.

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References:

[1] P. C. Rasmussen; J. C. Wardill; F. R. Lambert; J. Riley: On the specific status of the sangihe White-eye Zosterops nehrkorni, and the taxonomy of the Black-crowned White-eye Z. atrifrons complex. Forktail 16: 69-80. 2000

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(lower bird)

Depiction from: ‘A. B. Meyer; L. W. Wiglesworth: The birds of Celebes and neighbouring islands. Berlin: R. Friedländer & Sohn 1898’

(public domain)

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edited: 17.09.2020

Zosterops semiflavus E. Newton

Marianne White-eye (Zosterops semiflavus)

The Marianne White-eye was described in 1867, it was known only from Marianne Island in the Seychelles but may as well have occured on other islands within the island group including La Digue, Mahé, Praslin, and Silhouette.

The species was originally thougth to be a subspecies of the Mayotte White-eye (Zosterops mayottensisSchlegel) which it closely resembles, it is, however, more closely related to the Mascarene White-eye species and was restored to a full species in 2006. 

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The species disappeared sometimes between 1870 and 1900, the reasons for its demise, however, appear to be unknown but very likely lay in habitat destruction through agricultural development. 

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References:

[1] Justin Gerlach: Red List ing reveals the true state of biodiversity: a comprehensive assessment of Seychelles biodiversity. Phesluma 20: 9-22. 2012

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(lower bird)

Depiction from: ‘G. E. Shelley: The birds of Africa, comprising all the species which occur in the Ethiopian region. London, published for the author by R.H. Porter (18 Princes Street, Cavendish Square, W.) Vol. 2. 1900’  

(public domain)

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edited: 17.05.2019

Zosteropidae gen. & sp. ”Eua’

Large Eua White-eye (Zosteropidae gen. & sp.)  

The subfossil remains of this bird were found on the Tongan island of ‘Eua, it can be assigned to the white-eye family (Zosteropidae), however, not at least because of its large size, it cannot be assigned to any genus.  

The form has currently no scientific name. [1][2][3]  

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The neighboring island of Tongatapu harbored another similar form, also known exclusively from subfossil bone material, which may be identical with the form from the island of ‘Eua. [3]  

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References:  

[1] David W. Steadman: Biogeography of Tongan birds before and after human impact. Proc. Natl. Acad, Sci. USA 90: 818-822. 1993 
[2] D. W. Steadman: Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press 2006 
[3] S. T. Turvey: Holocene Extinctions. Oxford University Press, USA 2009

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edited: 17.09.2020

Zosteropidae gen. & sp. ‘Tongatapu’

Large Tongatapu White-eye (Zosteropidae gen. & sp.)

This enigmatic species is mentioned in a list which is included in S. T. Turvey’s ‘Holocene Extinctions’ from 2009, it is supposed to come from the island of Tongatapu, Tongan Islands.

I could not yet find out any more about it, but the author might as well just have mixed up the islands here and probably did actually mean the large white-eye form that is known from subfossil remains found on the island of ‘Eua, the neigbor island of Tongatapu. 

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References:

[1] S. T. Turvey: Holocene Extinctions. Oxford University Press, USA 2009

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edited: 17.05.2019