Togian white-eye

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Togian white-eye
ZosteropsSomadikartai.svg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Dinosauria
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Zosteropidae
Genus: Zosterops
Species:
Z. somadikartai
Binomial name
Zosterops somadikartai
Indrawan, Rasmussen & Sunarto, 2008
TogianMap.svg
Location of the Togian Islands with islands where the species has been found marked in red

The Togian white-eye (Zosterops somadikartai) is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae.

Contents

It is found in the Togian Islands of Indonesia, where it is endemic. The species was first spotted by University of Indonesia researcher Mochamad Indrawan and his colleague Sunarto in 1997, [2] [3] and formally described in 2008. The species is named after Soekarja Somadikarta, a prominent Indonesian ornithologist. Unlike most species in the genus it lacks a white-ring around the eye. [2] [4]

The species is believed to be endangered, [4] although it has not yet been assessed by the IUCN.

Description

The Sulawesi region is believed to have at least 9-10 species that are found in isolated islands. This isolation has led to speciation with differences in morphology and vocalizations. This new species is most similar to the black-crowned white-eye (Zosterops atrifrons) but lacks the white eye ring which is narrow but conspicuous even in juvenile black-crowned white-eyes. The Togian white-eye has a less extensive black cap, clearer yellow throat, distinct pale base to the bill and reddish (brown in the black-crowned) iris. The species is separated from Zosterops surdus of the west-central Sulawesi by the paler and brighter olive above and clearer yellow on the throat. It differs from Zosterops subatrifrons of Peleng and Banggai Islands by the lack of the white eye ring, greyer breast and less extensive black crown. Zosterops anomalus of southern Sulawesi also lacks a white eye ring but it has tiny white specks around the orbital skin. Differences in the pitch and modulation of the song of Z. somadikartai are noted in comparisons with other Zosterops species known from the region. [4]

Distribution and status

The holotype was collected from Pulau Malenge close at an elevation of about 50 m above sea level. It has also been observed on Malenge, Binuang, Talatakoh Island and two sites at Batudaka Island all at locations near the coast. The habitats included mangrove to secondary vegetation and gardens consisting of coconut, clove, cacao and durian. The birds were found to be gregarious, moving in flocks of twos and threes. [4]

The birds were not detected on the Togian and the Walea Islands. Surveys suggested that the entire population was found in an area of less than 5000 km2 and therefore fulfilling the IUCN criteria for "Endangered" status (EN, B, 1, a, b, iii). [4]

Related Research Articles

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Zosterops is a genus of passerine birds containing the typical white-eyes in the white-eye family Zosteropidae. The genus has the largest number of species in the white-eye family. They occur in the Afrotropical, Indomalayan, and Australasian realms. Typical white-eyes have a length of between 8 and 15 cm. Their most characteristic feature is a conspicuous white feather ring around the eye, though some species lack it. The species in this group vary in the structural adaptations of the tongue. The Zosterops [griseotinctus] group is an example of a "great speciator" inhabiting a vast area and showing a remarkable morphological differentiation on islands, some of which maybe as close as 2 km (1.2 mi) apart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian white-eye</span> Species of bird

The Indian white-eye, formerly the Oriental white-eye, is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is a resident breeder in open woodland on the Indian subcontinent. They forage in small groups, feeding on nectar and small insects. They are easily identified by the distinctive white eye-ring and overall yellowish upperparts. The range previously extended eastwards to Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia. Their name was recently changed due to previous members of Zosterops palpebrosus in Southeast Asia being renamed to a new species, making the Indian White-eye a more geographically accurate term for this species.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Togian Islands</span> Island group in Indonesia

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knobbed hornbill</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banggai crow</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yellow-breasted racket-tail</span> Species of bird

The yellow-breasted racket-tail is a species of parrot in the family Psittaculidae. It is endemic to Indonesia where it is found in Sulawesi's northern peninsula and the Togian Islands in the Gulf of Tomini. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White-bellied imperial pigeon</span> Species of bird from Indonesia

The white-bellied imperial pigeon is a species of bird in the pigeon family Columbidae. First described by the French ornithologist Charles Lucien Bonaparte in 1854, it is endemic to Indonesia, where it is found on Sulawesi, Buton, Taliabu, Togian, and Peleng. It inhabits primary forest, dense secondary forest, and isolated areas of hill forest. A large pigeon with a long tail, it measures 42.5–51.5 cm (16.7–20.3 in) long and weighs 510 g (18 oz) on average. Males are mainly green, with pale-grey heads and bellies, chestnut vents, and a pale grey tail band, along with a red orbital ring. Females are nearly identical, but have darker grey areas in their plumage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-ringed white-eye</span> Species of bird

The black-ringed white-eye or lemon-throated white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lemon-bellied white-eye</span> Species of bird

The lemon-bellied white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to Indonesia, where it occurs on a number of islands from the Sunda Strait to the Aru Islands. It is present on several of the Lesser Sunda Islands as well as on parts of Sulawesi, as well as many smaller islands, but is absent from the larger islands of Borneo, Java, Sumatra and Timor. Currently, HBW describes five sub-species of lemon-bellied white-eye. However, the extensive distribution of Z. c. intermedius is likely to contain more than one reproductively isolated population (cf. Z.c. intermedius and Z. c. flavissimus, with the latter now considered a distinct species, the Wakatobi white-eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pale-bellied white-eye</span> Species of bird

The pale-bellied white-eye is a species of bird in the family Zosteropidae. It is endemic to SE Sulawesi in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest. The species has a limited distribution and also appears to be sensitive to human disturbance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grey-throated white-eye</span> Species of bird

The grey-throated white-eye is a species of bird. Its family, the Zosteropidae, is probably not valid and belongs in the Timaliidae instead. It is also known as Zosterops ugiensis because Z. rendovae has often been used for the Solomons white-eye.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashy woodpecker</span> Species of bird

The ashy woodpecker is a species of bird in the woodpecker family Picidae. It is endemic to Sulawesi and surrounding islands in Indonesia. There are two subspecies, the nominate race M. f. fulvus, which is found in northern Sulawesi, the islands of Lembeh and Manterawu, and the archipelagos of Togian and Banggai; and M. f. wallacei, from southern Sulawesi and the islands of Muna and Buton. The second subspecies is named for the collector and scientist Alfred Russel Wallace.

The Seram white-eye is a small passerine bird in the white-eye family. It is an endemic resident breeder in open woodland in Seram, Indonesia.

Soekarja Somadikarta is an Indonesian ornithologist and a professor emeritus at the University of Indonesia. He has been described as "the father of Indonesian Ornithology who also pioneered the forerunner of systematic bird observation research in Indonesia."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wangi-wangi white-eye</span> Species of songbird

The Wangi-wangi white-eye or locally called as Sui, is a species of songbird in the white-eye family. Zosterops paruhbesar has a near full yellow body with the head, throat, vent and mid vental stripe. The flanks are slightly grey and the flight feathers and tail feathers are brown. Around the eye of Zosterops paruhbesar is a ring of white feathers.

References

  1. BirdLife International (2018). "Zosterops somadikartai". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22736183A131891482. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22736183A131891482.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Science Codex:Zosterops somadikartai - new bird species discovered in Indonesia
  3. Fox, Maggie (14 March 2008). "New bird discovered in Indonesia". Reuters . Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Mochamad Indrawan, Pamela C. Rasmussen, and Sunarto (2008) "A New White-Eye (Zosterops) from the Togian Islands, Sulawesi, Indonesia" The Wilson Journal of Ornithology120(1): 1-9 (abstract)