Chatham bellbird
Chatham bellbird | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Meliphagidae |
Genus: | Anthornis |
Species: | †A. melanocephala
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Binomial name | |
†Anthornis melanocephala G.R. Gray, 1843
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Chatham Islands (top right) in relation to other New Zealand Outlying Islands |
The Chatham bellbird (Anthornis melanocephala) is an extinct species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It was endemic to the Chatham Islands.
In appearance it was very similar to the New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) but was considerably larger. Also the whole of the head and neck was brightly glossed in purplish or steel-blue.[2]
It was last observed in 1906 on Little Mangere Island. The population was likely impacted by the introduction of a disease as there was a sudden population decline before the onset of other disturbances such as rats, cats and specimen collectors.
References[edit]
- ^ BirdLife International (2016). "Anthornis melanocephala". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22728814A94997726. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22728814A94997726.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ A History of the Birds of New Zealand by Walter Buller, 1888
External links[edit]
- Chatham Island Bellbird / Komako. by Paul Martinson. Artwork produced for the book Extinct Birds of New Zealand, by Alan Tennyson, Te Papa Press, Wellington, 2006
Categories:
- IUCN Red List extinct species
- Anthornis
- Extinct birds of the Chatham Islands
- Birds described in 1843
- Bird extinctions since 1500
- Species made extinct by human activities
- Species endangered by specimen collection
- Species endangered by habitat loss
- Species endangered by invasive species
- Taxa named by George Robert Gray
- Meliphagidae stubs