Mohoidae

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 regarded as invalid.

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

†Chaetoptila
†Moho

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 are not even closely related to the Meliphagidae but instead belong to a group within the Passerida 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

  • Oʻahu ʻōʻō
  • Bishop's ʻōʻō
  • Hawaiʻi ʻōʻō
  • Kauaʻi ʻōʻō
  • Kioea

References
  1. 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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