Calyptophilus
| Calyptophilus | |
|---|---|
| Eastern chat-tanager (Calyptophilus frugivorus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Superfamily: | Emberizoidea |
| Family: | Calyptophilidae Ridgway, 1907 |
| Genus: | Calyptophilus Cory, 1884 |
| Type species | |
| Phoenicophilus frugivorus[1] Cory, 1883
| |
Calyptophilus is a genus of birds that are endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.
Taxonomy
The genus formerly placed in the family Thraupidae. The group was found to be distinct enough to be placed in its own family, Calyptophilidae. Established by Charles Barney Cory in 1884, it contains the following species:[2]
- Western chat-tanager, Calyptophilus tertius
- Eastern chat-tanager, Calyptophilus frugivorus
These two species were formerly considered conspecific under C. frugivorus (with the common name of chat-tanager).
The name Calyptophilus comes from the Greek words kaluptēs, meaning "hider" (derived from kaluptō, meaning "to cover") and philos, meaning "loving" (derived from phileō, meaning "to love"), referring to the birds' elusive nature.[3]
Genetic Connection
Researchers conducted a study of molecular phylogeography by utilizing a coalescent study, which resulted in all four genetic markers demonstrating substantial allele sharing within each of the two groups. This indicates that several of the now separated montane groups are suggested not to have been isolated not too long ago.[4]
References
- ^ "Calyptophilidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
- ^ "ITIS Report: Calyptophilus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
- ^ Jobling, James A. (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Names. London, UK: Christopher Helm. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4.
- ^ "Wiley Report: "Ancient differentiation in the single-island avian radiation of endemic Hispartiolan chat-tanagers (Aves: Calyptophilus)."". ANDREA K. TOWNSEND, CHRISTOPHER C. RIMMER, STEVEN C. LATTA, IRBY J. LOVETTE. Retrieved 2 Nov 2025.