- Vini
Taxobox
name = "Vini"
image_width = 250px
image_caption =Blue-crowned Lorikeet
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo =Psittaciformes
familia =Psittacidae
subfamilia = Loriinae
genus = "Vini"
genus_authority = Lesson,1833
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =see text"Vini" is a
genus ofbird s endemic to the islands of the tropicalPacific . They are five extant species of these small lorikeets ranging from easternFiji throughSamoa ,French Polynesia , and as far east asHenderson Island . All members of the genus have exceptional brightplumage , particularly the unusual all over blues of theBlue Lorikeet and theUltramarine Lorikeet . TheCollared Lory ("Phigys solitarius") is sometimes considered to be in this genus.The "Vini" lorikeets are highly threatened by human changes to their islands. Most species have been lost from a number of islands and two species became extinct before the arrival of European explorers in the Pacific. Today two species are listed as
endangered species by theIUCN and two are considered vulnerable. They are primarily threatened byintroduced species and habitat loss.List of species:
*Blue-crowned Lorikeet , "Vini australis"
*Rimatara Lorikeet , "Vini kuhlii"
*Stephen's Lorikeet , "Vini stepheni"
*Blue Lorikeet , "Vini peruviana"
*Ultramarine Lorikeet , "Vini ultramarina"
* †Sinoto's Lorikeet , "Vini sinotoi" (extinct)
* †Conquered Lorikeet , "Vini vidivici" (extinct)References
*Steadman D, (2006). "Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds", University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7
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