Chatham tomtit

Chatham tomtit

Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Petroicidae
Genus: Petroica
Species:
P. macrocephala
Subspecies:
P. m. chathamensis
Trinomial name
Petroica macrocephala chathamensis
(CA Fleming, 1950)

The Chatham tomtit (Petroica macrocephala chathamensis) is a subspecies of tomtit found on some of the smaller islands of New Zealand. It is most similar in plumage to the South Island tomtit, the nominate subspecies.[2] The New Zealand government is implementing a plan to help this species and other bird species recover.[3] The holotype is in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.[4]

Distribution

The Chatham tomtit has been extinct on Chatham Island since the 1970s. This subspecies now has a population of about 1,000 birds and is currently restricted to the rat-free islands of Rangatira, Mangere and Pitt.[5]

References

  1. ^ Terranature.org
  2. ^ Govt.nz
  3. ^ Govt.nz
  4. ^ "Petroica macrocephala chathamensis; holotype". Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  5. ^ chathams.co.nz Archived May 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine