The Príncipe seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only on the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe off the west coast of Africa.[2] Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.[1]

Príncipe seedeater
Crithagra rufobrunnea thomensis in São Tomé
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Fringillidae
Subfamily: Carduelinae
Genus: Crithagra
Species:
C. rufobrunnea
Binomial name
Crithagra rufobrunnea
(G.R. Gray, 1862)
Synonyms
  • Serinus rufobrunneus (Gray, 1862)

The Príncipe seedeater was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic.[3] The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the Príncipe seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.[4][5]

Subspecies

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Three subspecies are currently recognised:[6]

  • Crithagra rufobrunnea rufobrunnea, the nominate subspecies, endemic to Príncipe. Colour cinnamon-brown.[6]
  • Crithagra rufobrunnea thomensis, endemic to São Tomé. More greenish than the other subspecies, with a dull olive-brown colouration and a off-white patch on the throat.[6]
  • Crithagra rufobrunnea fradei, endemic to the Jockey's Bonnet islet off the southern coast of Príncipe. Larger than the nominate subspecies, with somewhat more reddish coloration and a darker bill.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b BirdLife International (2018). "Crithagra rufobrunnea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22720272A131457659. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22720272A131457659.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ BirdLife International, Species Factsheet Crithagra rufobrunnea, accessed 16 January 2019
  3. ^ Zuccon, Dario; Prŷs-Jones, Robert; Rasmussen, Pamela C.; Ericson, Per G.P. (2012). "The phylogenetic relationships and generic limits of finches (Fringillidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 62 (2): 581–596. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2011.10.002. PMID 22023825.
  4. ^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David (eds.). "Finches, euphonias". World Bird List Version 5.2. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  5. ^ Swainson, William (1827). "On several forms in ornithology not hitherto defined". Zoological Journal. 3: 348.
  6. ^ a b c d Clement, P. (2020). "Principe Seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea), version 1.0". In del Hoyo, J.; Elliott, A.; Sargatal, J.; Christie, D. A.; de Juana, E. (eds.). Birds of the World. Ithaca, NY, USA: Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Retrieved 30 August 2024.

Further reading

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  • Christy, P. & Clarke, W. V. (1998). Guide des oiseaux de São Tomé et Príncipe (Guide to the Birds of São Tomé and Príncipe). Libreville, Ecofac, 106 pages
  • Jones, P. J. & Tye, A. (2006). The Birds of São Tomé and Príncipe with Annobón, islands of the Gulf of Guinea. British Ornithologists’ Union, Oxford, 192 pages
  • Melo, M. (2007). Bird speciation in the Gulf of Guinea. PhD, School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.
  • Naurois, de, R. (1975). Les Carduelinae des îles de São Tomé et Príncipe (Golfe de Guinée) (Carduelinae in the Islands of São Tomé and Príncipe (Gulf of Guinea)). Ardeola 21 : 903–931.