Zosterops

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Zosterops
Japanese White-eyeZosterops japonicus
Japanese White-eye
Zosterops japonicus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae (disputed)
Genus: Zosterops
Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Species

Some 75, see text.

Zosterops is a genus of birds containing the typical white-eyes. They are traditionally placed in the white-eye family Zosteropidae which may actually be a part of the Timaliidae however (Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006).

This genus has the highest number of species among the white-eyes by far. They occur in the Afrotropic ecoregion, the Indomalaya zone, and the Australasia ecozone. Typical white-eyes can reach a length between 8 and 15 cm. Their most characteristic feature is the conspicuous white feather ring around the eyes, though some species lack it.

[edit] Systematics

A review of new DNA sequence data (Jønsson & Fjeldså 2006) suggests that the genus might not be monophyletic. Few species have been researched however, with the highest density of sampled taxa being from Micronesia. There, it appears, a more distinct eastern lineage and a western one closer to East Asian species occur. The relationships of the former to the Rukia white-eyes need investigation. Also, the Cape White-eye seems to stand apart from the rest but this is by no means certain.

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