A mysterious new species of Honey Eater myzomela It is explained by an international team of ornithologists from Malaysia, India, the UK and the US.
Babar Mizomera (Myzomela babarensis). Image credit: James A. Eaton.
myzomela It is the largest and most geographically extensive genus of the Honey Eater family. Merifagidae.
It currently contains more than 40 scientifically recognized species, first described in 1827 by naturalists Nicholas Vigers and Thomas Horsefield.
myzomela From Indonesia to Australia and Pacific islands, from Micronesia and Samoa.
The genus is a colorful, nectar-eating bird. They are important elements of the island’s ecosystem and often constitute some of the most abundant canopy birds in eastern Indonesia.
In the new study, Birdlife international ornithologist Alex Berryman and colleagues made a taxonomic revision of three populations called The Species. Banda Mizomera (Myzomela boiei)).
“We investigated the taxonomy Myzomela boiei“A colorful, sexually dimorphic honey eater distributed in two subspecies in three island groups in the Banda Sea in southern Marc,” the researchers explained.
“Myzomela Boiei Boiei Occurs in the Banda Islands Myzomela boiei Annabella occurs in Babar (and possibly its satellites) and in Taninbaru Islands (at least Yamdena and Serral, and perhaps the whole). ”
“With the addition of Damard, Leti Islands, Kisar and other small islands, these islands form the “Banda Sea Island,” a region with relatively low bird diversity but high endemic as expected. ”
The author examined 28 museum specimens and 21 sound recordings Myzomela boieiand 152 regeneration experiments were also performed.
The specimens were provided by the New York State Museum of Natural History and the Natural History Museum of Tring.
Sound recordings have been verified xeno-canto.org and Macaulay Libraryand by contacting sound recorders who visited the relevant island.
“compared to Myzomela Boiei Annabellae, Myzomela Boiei Boiei C. There are 10% longer wings, bills and Tulsas, a wider black chest band, lower duskier rear, and a very diverse song. In the regeneration experiment, Myzomela Boiei Boiei It has been proven to not respond to recordings of Myzomela Boiei AnnabellaeThe scientist said.
“But the song Myzomela boiei The Annabella of Taninbar and Babar are also very diverse, with the population of both islands not responding to songs from other islands. ”
“Babar birds are also slightly larger Myzomela Boiei Annabellae With Taninbar (has a 10% longer tail), there may be more scar colour on the back. ”
It has been named Myzomela babarensis (The generic name is Babar Mizomera), the newly described species is probably endemic to Babar, which contains five small satellites on the island.
“Myzomela boiei Currently listed as At least concern On the IUCN Red List,” the researcher said.
“Proposed department Myzomela boiei It may be superficially suggest that each of the three range-limited species may increase the risk of extinction. All populations are highly adaptable to habitat degradation and are common within their respective ranges. ”
“Myzomela babarensis As it occurs in all types of wooded habitats, including “degraded farmland,” its population is likely to be little affected by the ongoing forest degradation of Babar. ”
“We propose that Myzomela boiei, Myzomela annabellae and Myzomela babarensis It's best to consider At least concern. ”
Team's paper It was published in Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club.
____
Alex J. Berryman et al. 2025. Taxonomic revision of Banda Mizomera Myzomela boiei (S. Muller 1843) includes an explanation of a new species of Babar Island, Indonesia. Brief news from the British Ornithologists' Club 145(1):35-48; doi:10.25226/bboc.v145i1.2025.a4
Source: www.sci.news
