Paroreomyza is a genus of Hawaiian honeycreeper in the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. These birds are endemic to Hawaii.
Taxonomy
Paroreomyza, along with
Oreomystis (although their alliance is disputed),
is the second most basal genus of Hawaiian honeycreeper to survive to recent times, with the most basal being the recently extinct poʻouli (
Melamprosops phaeosoma), with
Paroreomyza and
Oreomystis having diverged from the rest of the lineage about 4.7 million years ago. Members of
Paroreomyza do not have two key phenotypic traits present in
Oreomystis and the more derived Hawaiian honeycreepers: a distinct musty odor and a squared-off tongue. Following the extinction of the poʻouli, it (along with
Oreomystis if they are considered sister genera) is the most basal group of Hawaiian honeycreepers still surviving, although it too has lost most of its species.
Species
It includes the following species:
-
Kākāwahie ( Paroreomyza flammea) — extinct (1963)
-
Oʻahu ʻalauahio ( Paroreomyza maculata) — probably extinct (late 1960s to mid 1980s?)
-
Maui Nui ʻalauahio ( Paroreomyza montana)
-
Lanaʻi ʻalauahio ( Paroreomyza montana montana) — extinct (1937)
-
Maui ʻalauahio ( Paroreomyza montana newtoni)
See also
