Hemignathus

Hemignathus is a Hawaiian honeycreeper genus in the subfamily Carduelinae of the finch family, Fringillidae.

Hemignathus
Oʻahu nukupuʻu (Hemignathus lucidus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Hemignathus
Lichtenstein, 1839
Species

See text

Synonyms

Akialoa
Heterorhynchus
Magumma
(see text)

These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Extinctions

Many of its species became extinct during the 19th and 20th centuries due to a combination of habitat destruction, introduced predators, and most importantly mosquito-borne diseases.

One species known as the Giant Amakihi known only from fossils, became extinct in prehistoric times, when Polynesian settlers deforested the lowlands for agriculture.

Taxonomy

(Sub)Genus Hemignathus sensu stricto - pointed or long and downcurved bills, insectivores or nectarivores. The Nukupu‘u:

  • Giant nukupu‘u, Hemignathus vorpalis - prehistoric
  • Maui nukupuʻu Hemignathus affinis - probably extinct (late 1990s?)
  • Oʻahu nukupuʻu Hemignathus lucidus - extinct (1837)
  • Kauaʻi nukupuʻu Hemignathus hanapepe - probably extinct (late 1990s?)

(Sub)Genus Heterorhynchus - long and downcurved upper and short and stout lower bill, probes for insects

See also
  • Hawaiian honeycreepers
  • Endemic fauna of Hawaii


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