Chestnut-bellied monarch
Chestnut-bellied monarch (below); illustration by Keulemans, 1879
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Monarchidae
Genus: Monarcha
Species:
M. castaneiventris
Binomial name
Monarcha castaneiventris
Verreaux, 1858
Subspecies

See text

The chestnut-bellied monarch (Monarcha castaneiventris) or chestnut-bellied monarch-flycatcher is a species of bird in the family Monarchidae. It is endemic to the Solomon Islands.

Subspecies

Four subspecies are recognized:[2]

Behaviour and ecology

In 2009, it was reported that a genetic change in some members of this species caused their colouration and songs to be different from other members of the species. As a result, members in one group did not recognize members in the other, so the two groups became reproductively isolated from each other. It was thought that over time, this could eventually lead to the creation of a new species, and that this was an example of biological evolution.[3]

References

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2017). "Monarcha castaneiventris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T103715139A112353494. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-1.RLTS.T103715139A112353494.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ "IOC World Bird List 6.4". IOC World Bird List Datasets. doi:10.14344/ioc.ml.6.4.
  3. ^ Beautiful plumage: Feather color and sex start the species revolution, eurekalert.org, August 5, 2009


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