Samoan island thrush

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Samoan island thrush
Naturalis Biodiversity Center - RMNH.AVES.146385 1 - Turdus poliocephalus samoensis Tristram, 1879 - Turdidae - bird skin specimen.jpeg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Turdidae
Genus: Turdus
Species:
T. samoensis
Binomial name
Turdus samoensis
Tristram, 1879

The Samoan island thrush (Turdus samoensis) is a species of passerine bird in the thrush family Turdidae. It is endemic to the Samoan Islands, which includes Samoa and American Samoa. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the island thrush, but in 2024 the island thrush complex was split into 17 different species by the IOC and Clements checklist based on morphological and phylogenic differences. [1] [2]

Contents

Taxonomy

The Samoan island thrush was first described by clergyman and zoological collector Henry Baker Tristram in 1879 as Turdus samoensis. [3] For a long time afterwards it was considered a subspecies of island thrush. However following a phylogenetic study in 2023, and with consideration to morphological differences between subspecies, the Samoan island thrush is now treated as a distinct species. [4] The species is monotypic: no subspecies are recognised. [5]

References

  1. "2024 Taxonomy Update—COMING SOON". eBird. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. "Proposed Splits/Lumps". IOC World Bird List v14.2. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. Tristram, Henry Baker (1879). "TURDUS SAMOENSIS, sp. nov.". Ibis. 3 (10): 188. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. Reeve, Andrew Hart; Gower, Graham; Pujolar, José Martín; Smith, Brian Tilston (January 2023). "Population genomics of the island thrush elucidates one of earth's great archipelagic radiations". Evolution Letters. 7 (1). Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (August 2024). "Thrushes". IOC World Bird List Version 14.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 26 September 2024.