Giant honeyeater

Giant honeyeater
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Meliphagidae
Genus: Gymnomyza
Species: G. viridis
Binomial name
Gymnomyza viridis
(Layard, 1875)

The giant honeyeater, giant forest honeyeater or yodeling honeyeater (Gymnomyza viridis) is a species of bird in the Meliphagidae family. It is endemic to Fiji.

Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The nominate subspecies G. v. viridis occurs on the Vanua Levu and Taveuni islands, whereas, G. v. brunneirostris is present only on the smaller Viti Levu island. The subspecies show both phenotypic and behavioural differences. A molecular phylogenetic study published in 2014 found that the subspecies also differed significantly in their mitochondrial DNA sequences and suggested that G. v. brunneirostris should be promoted to the species level. The International Ornithologists' Union accepted these proposals and introduced the name "yellow-billed honeyeater" for G. viridis and "giant honeyeater" for G. brunneirostris.[2][3]

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2012). "Gymnomyza viridis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  2. ↑ Andersen, M.J.; Naikatini, A.; Moyle, R.C. (2014). "A molecular phylogeny of Pacific honeyeaters (Aves: Meliphagidae) reveals extensive paraphyly and an isolated Polynesian radiation". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 71: 308–315. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2013.11.014.
  3. ↑ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Honeyeaters". World Bird List Version 6.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
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