Ptilotula
| Ptilotula | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ptilotula flavescens | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: |
Ptilotula Mathews, 1912 |
Ptilotula is a genus of honeyeater consisting of species occurring in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The genus consists of six former members of Lichenostomus, and was created after a molecular analysis showed the genus was polyphyletic. The International Ornithologists' Union accepted this change and officially included the genus in reference lists from 2013. The type species is the yellow-tinted honeyeater (Ptilotula flavescens). Birds in this genus typically occupy dry open forest and woodland habitats, and can be found in arid and semi-arid environments.
The genus includes six species:
Ptilotula species are medium sized honeyeaters ranging from 13 cm to 18.5 cm in size, with the yellow-tinted honeyeater (P. flavescens) smallest at 13-15.5 cm and the yellow-plumed honeyeater (P. ornatus) largest at 14-18.5 cm. The characteristic features all species share are a plain face with a black proximal stripe and either yellow or white distal plumes across the sides of the neck.
Until recently, the members of Ptilotula were considered part of Lichenostomus. They were recognised as a clade within this genus, displaying similarities in morphological characters and habitat preferences. Extensive molecular phylogenetic analyses of the honeyeater family Meliphagidae occurred during the first decade of the 21st century, resulting in Lichenostomus being split into seven genera.
The name Ptilotula was first proposed by the Australian ornithologist Gregory Mathews in 1912. Prior to 1912 most honeyeaters were placed in either Meliphaga or Melithreptus. He attempted to resolve this by placing 14 species into Ptilotis, a genus originally described by John Gould; but Mathews recognised his treatment was polyphyletic. He rectified this by creating several new genera from Ptilotis, placing the white-plumed honeyeater (P. penicillatus) and the yellow-tinted honeyeater (P. flavescens) in Ptilotula. However, when contributing to the Second Official Checklist of the Birds of Australia, the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union rejected Mathews' phylogenic treatment as they did not agree with the formation of so many new genera. Mathews compromised by allowing these species to remain in Meliphaga and noting Ptilotula as a sub-genus.
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