 |
| Solomons Frogmouth Rigidipenna inexpectata
photo: Markus Lagerqvist
pbase.com/lagerqvist |
The frogmouth taxon occurring on the Solomon Islands has been known as Podargus ocellatus inexpectatus, a subspecies endemic to four islands in the Solomon Islands of a species that also inhabits New Guinea and Australia. Our morphological, osteological and molecular studies support recognition of inexpectatus at the species level, and further reveal that it merits placement in its own genus, which we describe here. Compared with the two other extant podargid genera, inexpectatus does not seem to be more closely related either to Batrachostomus (confined to the Indo-Malayan faunal region) or to Podargus of the Papuan–Australian faunal region. We also review the specimen history of the Solomon Islands Frogmouth, and discuss what little is known about its ecology, natural history and distribution.
 |
| A new genus of frogmouth bird Rigidipenna (top) found in the Solomon Islands by Florida Museum of Natural History ornithologists Andrew Kratter and David Steadman may be closely related to another genus found in the Philippines (bottom). |
 |
| Solomons Frogmouth Rigidipenna inexpectata |
Cleere, Kratter, Steadman, Braun, Huddleston, Filardi and Dutson. 2007. A new genus of frogmouth (Podargidae) from the Solomon Islands – results from a taxonomic review of Podargus ocellatus inexpectatus Hartert 1901. Ibis. 149:271-286.
University of Florida News - UF scientists discover new genus of frogmouth bird in Solomon Islands
