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| Myzomela prawiradilagae
Irham, Ashari, Suparno, Trainor, Verbelen, Wu & Rheindt, 2019
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Abstract
We here describe a new species of Myzomela honeyeater from the Lesser Sunda island of Alor (southeast Indonesia). The new species is phylogenetically most closely related to Myzomela kuehni from the adjacent island of Wetar and most closely resembles that species in plumage. However, it differs in important morphological, bioacoustic and ecological characteristics. The discovery of a new bird species on Alor is of great biogeographic importance and elevates this island to the status of an Endemic Bird Area. The new Alor Myzomela is restricted to montane eucalypt woodland mostly above 900 m elevation and is currently known from few sites across the island. Based on its occurrence records and human population trends in the highlands of Alor Island, we recommend classification under the IUCN threat status endangered.
Keywords: Myzomela, Honeyeater, Alor, Wetar, Plumage, Bioacoustics, Ecological characteristics, Novel species
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| Two individuals of the new Alor Myzomela Myzomela prawiradilagae perched in Eucalyptus urophylla tree at 1250 m near Manmas-Subo in April 2014.
(photo: Philippe Verbelen).
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Myzomela prawiradilagae
English name: Alor Myzomela.
Indonesian name: Myzomela Alor.
Etymology: The new Alor Myzomela is named after Dr. Dewi Malia Prawiradilaga. One of the frst leading female Indonesian ornithologists, “Ibu Dewi” is the head of the bird division at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Science. She has made substantial contributions to the development of research on the ecology and conservation of Indonesian birds.
Mohammad Irham, Hidayat Ashari, Suparno, Colin R. Trainor, Philippe Verbelen, Meng Yue Wu and Frank E. Rheindt. 2019. A New Myzomela Honeyeater (Meliphagidae) from the Highlands of Alor Island, Indonesia. Journal of Ornithology. DOI: 10.1007/s10336-019-01722-2
