Mohoidae

Mohoidae
Temporal range: Holocene
Moho apicalis and Chaetoptila angustipluma
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Suborder: Passeri
Infraorder: Passerida
Family: † Mohoidae
Fleischer, James and Olson, 2008
Genera

Chaetoptila
Moho

Mohoidae is a family of Hawaiian species of recently extinct, nectarivorous songbirds in the genera Moho (ʻōʻō) and Chaetoptila (kioea). These now extinct birds form their own family, representing the only complete extinction of an entire avian family in modern times,[1] when the disputed family Turnagridae is disregarded for being invalid.

Until recently, these birds were thought to belong to the family Meliphagidae (honeyeaters) due to their very similar appearance and behavior, including many morphological details. However, a 2008 study argued, on the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of DNA from museum specimens, that the genera Moho and Chaetoptila do not belong to the Meliphagidae but instead belong to a group that includes the waxwings and the palmchat; they appear especially close to the silky-flycatchers. Hawaiian honeyeaters did not evolve from the similar looking Australasian honeyeaters, but instead represent a striking case of convergent evolution.[1] The authors proposed a family, Mohoidae, for these two extinct genera.[2]

Species

Family: Mohoidae

References

  1. 1 2 Lovette, Irby J. (2008). "Convergent Evolution: Raising a Family from the Dead". Current Biology. 18 (24): R1132–4. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.11.006. PMID 19108768.
  2. ↑ Fleischer, Robert C.; James, Helen F.; Olson, Storrs L. (2008). "Convergent Evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific Honeyeaters from Distant Songbird Ancestors". Current Biology. 18 (24): 1927–31. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.051. PMID 19084408.
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