• Source: Hemignathus

Hemignathus is a genus of Hawaiian honeycreepers in the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. All species are endemic to Hawaii.




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. The ʻakiapōlāʻau (Hemignathus wilsoni) may be the last surviving species in the genus.
One species, the giant nukupu'u (Hemignathus vorpalis), is known only from fossils, and became extinct in prehistoric times when Polynesian settlers deforested the lowlands for agriculture.




Taxonomy


There are 5 species in this genus, 4 of which are extinct or possibly extinct:

Maui nukupuʻu, Hemignathus affinis - critically endangered or extinct, debated 1896 or 1990s
Kauaʻi nukupuʻu, Hemignathus hanapepe - critically endangered or extinct, debated 1899 or 1990s
Oʻahu nukupuʻu, Hemignathus lucidus - extinct, 1800s
Giant nukupuʻu, Hemignathus vorpalis - extinct, Holocene
ʻAkiapolaʻau, Hemignathus wilsoni




References

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Chlorodrepanis stejnegeri
• Hemignathus
• Endemism in the Hawaiian Islands
• Hawaiian honeycreeper
• ʻAkiapolaʻau
• Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi
• Giant nukupuʻu
• Kauaʻi ʻakialoa
• Kauaʻi nukupuʻu
• List of endemic birds of Hawaii
• List of true finch species