- Mariana Fruit-dove
Taxobox
name = Mariana Fruit-dove
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1
image_width = 225px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Columbiformes
familia =Columbidae
genus = "Ptilinopus "
species = "P. roseicapilla"
binomial = "Ptilinopus roseicapilla"
binomial_authority = (Lesson, 1831)The Mariana Fruit-dove, "Ptilinopus roseicapilla", also known locally as Mwee’mwe in the Carolinian language, Totot on Guam or Paluman Totut in Northern Mariana Islands, is a small, up to 24cm long, green fruit dove native and endemic toGuam and theNorthern Marianas Islands in thePacific . It has a red forehead, greyish head, back and breast, and yellow belly patch and undertail coverts.The female lays a single white egg. The chick and egg are tended to by both parents. Its diet consists mainly of fruits.
Culturally, the Mariana Fruit-dove is a very important symbol of the region. This species is the official bird of the Northern Marianas Islands. [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=18620] . In 2005, the Mariana Fruit-dove was originally chosen as the official mascot of the
2006 Micronesian Games inSaipan . [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=18620] However, the official website for the games shows atropicbird as the official symbol instead of the Mariana Fruit-dove. [http://cnmi.net/microgames/]The species faces extinction due to habitat loss throughout its range. A larger threat to the Mariana Fruit-dove has been the accidental introduction of the
Brown tree snake to Guam duringWorld War II . The snakes decimated the native bird populations of the island, which were unaccustomed to predators. They are extinct on Guam and the Mariana Fruit-dove is highly endangered on other islands in its range. The spread of the snakes to other Northern Marianas Islands could be devastating. Several zoos have started captive breeding programs. TheSt. Louis Zoo , inSt. Louis, Missouri , has one of the most successful captive breeding programs. The program began in 1993. [http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/birds/pigeonsdoves/marianasfruitdo01.htm]Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range, small population size and invasive alien species, the Mariana Fruit-dove is evaluated as
Endangered on theIUCN Red List of Threatened Species.References
* Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered
External links
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=2678&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://www.redlist.org/search/details.php?species=18781 IUCN Red List]
* [http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/abouttheanimals/birds/pigeonsdoves/marianasfruitdo01.htm St. Louis Zoo: Mariana Fruit Dove]
* [http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=18620 Marianas Fruit Dove Chosen Micronesian Games Mascot]
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