Crescent-caped lophorina | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Passeriformes |
Family: | Paradisaeidae |
Genus: | Lophorina |
Species: | L. niedda
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Binomial name | |
Lophorina niedda Mayr, 1930
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Synonyms | |
Lophorina superba niedda[1] |
The crescent-caped lophorina or Vogelkop superb bird-of-paradise (Lophorina niedda), sometimes noted as the curl-caped bird-of-paradise,[2] is a species of the Paradisaeidae (bird-of-paradise) family. It is endemic to the Bird's Head Peninsula in New Guinea (Vogelkop in Dutch).[3] First described in 1930 by Ernst Mayr, it had been treated as a subspecies of the superb bird-of-paradise but was elevated to the status of a full species in 2017,[2] and reinforced in 2018 based on its striking black plumage (its feathers absorb 99.95 percent of light)[4] and behavioral differences, especially visible in the courting male.[3][5]
The crescent-caped lophorina's scientific name consists of the words lophorina, meaning "tuft/crest-nose", referring to the upward-standing tufts of feathers behind each nostril, and niedda which refers to the native onomatopoeic name for a bird-of-paradise. The subspecies, L. n. inopinata's specific name means unexpected or unlooked for.
Historical sources generally recorded the crescent-caped lophorina as being a subspecies of the superb bird-of-paradise (Lophorina superba niedda); however, in 2017, the crescent-caped lophorina was formally treated as a separate species.[2] There are two known subspecies: L. n. niedda, found on the Wadammen Peninsula; and L. n. inopinata, found on the Doberai Peninsula.[2] There are also several differences in courtship behavior, as well as their geographic isolation from the rest of the population.[3] This classification is disputed, however; the subspecies inopinata comprises the taxon formerly known as L. superba superba, but given a new name,[2] while other taxonomists argue that regardless of the evidence, names should not be reassigned from one recognized taxon to another after over 200 years of consistent application.[6]
The crescent-caped lophorina is found in the mountains of Bird's Head Peninsula, in Western New Guinea, Indonesia.[1] It is typically found at heights of 1,200–2,000 m (3,900–6,600 ft).[2]