Kaua'i Palila

Taxobox
name = Kaua'i Palila
status = EX
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Passeriformes
familia = Drepanididae
genus = "Loxioides"
species = "L. kikuichi"
synomym = Pila's Palia
binomial = "Loxioides kikuichi"
binomial_authority = (Helen James and Storrs Olson, 2006)The Kaua'i Palila ("Loxioides kikuichi") was a species of Hawaiian finch that was much larger than the Palila ("Loxioides bailleui"). It was probably covered in feathers of red, gold, white, and black.

Extinction

The Kaua'i Palila was one of many native Hawaiian birds that was affected by drastic changes in the environment due to farming. The dry forest was cut down, and irrigation from streams became widespread. The ecosystem became much wetter, and the remaining Naio trees began to rot away. Soon the Pila's Palila was pushed to its limit, and became extinct, though it had lived for a long time, despite human competition and destruction of their habitat. Some speculate that the latest remaning specimen dates back to the 1800s, making it a very recent extinction. Today the Kaua'i Palila is known from few specimens, found on the island of Kauai. It is unknown if this bird ever got a name in the Hawaiian language, since it seems to have disappeared before Europeans arrived to apply the classification name.

Findings’

Prehistorically, the Palila may also have inhabited Kauai. The subfossil remains found on Kauai are intriguing. They were found near sea level, where the habitat to which the species is restricted today apparently never occurred. Mamane might conceivably also have grown at lower elevations on the arid parts of Maui Nui. No Palila remains have been discovered on these interspersing islands; it is thus quite possible that the birds from Oahu and Kauai constitute the Pila's Palila, and a third species of "Loxioides". A related larger species, Pila's Palila, or Loxioides kikuichi is known exclusively from subfossil remains found on Kauai. It became extinct maybe as late as 1750, maybe much earlier.

References

* James, Helen F, Olson, Storrs L (2006) "A new species of Hawaiian finch (Drepanidini: "Loxioides) from Makauwahi Cave. " "Auk" 132(2): 335–344