Hemignathus

Hemignathus
Oʻahu nukupuʻu (Hemignathus lucidus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Fringillidae
Subfamily:	Carduelinae
Genus:	Hemignathus Lichtenstein, 1839
Species
See text
Synonyms
Akialoa Heterorhynchus Magumma (see text)

Hemignathus is a Hawaiian honeycreeper genus in the subfamily Carduelinae of the finch family, Fringillidae.

These birds are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Extinctions[]

Many of its species became extinct during the 19th and 20th centuries due to a combination of habitat destruction, introduced predators, and most importantly mosquito-borne diseases.

One species, the giant nukupu'u (Hemignathus vorpalis), is known only from fossils, and became extinct in prehistoric times when Polynesian settlers deforested the lowlands for agriculture.

Taxonomy[]

(Sub)Genus Hemignathus sensu stricto - pointed or long and downcurved bills, insectivores or nectarivores. The Nukupu‘u:

• Giant nukupu‘u, Hemignathus vorpalis - prehistoric
• Maui nukupuʻu Hemignathus affinis - probably extinct (late 1990s?)
• Oʻahu nukupuʻu Hemignathus lucidus - extinct (1837)
• Kauaʻi nukupuʻu Hemignathus hanapepe - probably extinct (late 1900s?)

(Sub)Genus Heterorhynchus - long and downcurved upper and short and stout lower bill, probes for insects

• ʻAkiapolaʻau, Heterorhynchus wilsoni

See also[]

• Hawaiian honeycreepers
• Endemic fauna of Hawaii

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