Maidloris
| Maidloris | ||||||||||
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Sapphire Lorikeet ( Vini peruviana ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||
| Vini | ||||||||||
| Lesson , 1833 |
The Maidloris ( Vini ) are a genus of small Loris found on the tropical Pacific islands. There are five recent known and extinct two ways. The distribution area extends from the eastern Fiji Islands, via Samoa , French Polynesia further east to Henderson Island . The body is stocky and the short tail is rounded. The elongated, erect crown springs have protruding shaft strips. Particularly noticeable are the ultramarine loris ( Vini ultramarina ) and the sapphire loris ( Vini peruviana ) with their bright blue plumage without any green parts. There is no sexual dimorphism , but the juvenile birds differ from the adult birds.
The populations of the Maidloris are particularly threatened by habitat destruction and by introduced predators and rats. The Kuhl's Lorikeet ( Vini kuhlii ) and the Ultramarine Lorikeet ( Vini ultramarina ) are at high risk of Stephen's Lorikeet ( Vini stepheni ) and the blue lorikeet ( Vini peruviana ) are compromised. Only the blue cap ( Vini australis ) is not endangered. Two types, Vini sinotoi and Vini vidivici , are only known from subfossil bone material.
Species and their distribution
- Blue skullcap ( Vini australis ). Distribution: ʻAlofi, Fotuhaʻa, Fulago, Futuna, Haʻafeva, Niuafoʻou, Moce, Niuē, Ofu, Olosega, Sāmoa, Savaiʻi, Tafahi, Taʻu, Tofua, Tonga, Tungua, ʻUiha, ʻUpolu, Varoa, Vavaʻu and Voleva.
- Ruby Lorikeet ( Vini kuhlii ). Distribution: Rimatara, Teraina, Atiu in the Cook Islands
- Henderson Lorikeets ( Vini stepheni ). Distribution: Henderson Island in the Pitcairn Islands
- Sapphire lorikeet ( Vini peruviana ). Distribution: Motu, Manuae, Tikehau, Rangiroa, Aratua, Kaukura, Apataki, Aitutaki and probably Harvey Island and Manihi.
- Ultramarine Lorikeet ( Vini ultramarina ). Distribution: Ua Hookah in the Marquesas
Extinct species
- Vini sinotoi . Distribution: Ua Huka, Hiva Oa and Tahuata in the Marquesas and Huahine in the Society Islands
- Vini vidivici . Distribution: Hiva Oa, Ua Huka and Tahuata in the Marquesas and Huahine in the Society Islands
literature
- Joseph M. Forshaw: Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide . Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey, and Woodstock, United Kingdom 2006. ISBN 978-0-691-09251-5
- Steadman, DW: Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds , University of Chicago Press, 2006. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7
- Steadman, DW, Zarriello, M. C: Two New Species of Parrots (Aves: Psittacidae) from Archeological Sites in the Marquesas Islands In: Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 100 (3), 1987, pp. 518-528
