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A new species of White‐eye Zosterops and notes on other birds from Vanikoro, Solomon Islands
Author(s) -
DUTSON GUY
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2008.00834.x
Subject(s) - white (mutation) , geography , threatened species , endemism , zoology , ecology , biology , habitat , biochemistry , gene
A new species of white‐eye, the Vanikoro White‐eye Zosterops gibbsi , is described from the island of Vanikoro (= Vanikolo) in the Santa Cruz Islands (= Temotu Province) within the Solomon Islands. It differs from the geographically closest white‐eye, the Santa Cruz White‐eye Zosterops sanctaecrucis , by a number of features including a much longer bill, and different leg‐ and eye‐ring colour. This is the second bird species endemic to Vanikoro; the neighbouring Nendo Island supports three endemic species. Although the conservation status of this species appears to be secure, the Santa Cruz Islands are very poorly known. Despite supporting several globally threatened species, the Islands at present are not protected by any conservation activity.