From Opus

Hooded Pitohui
Photo by Mehd Halaouate

Genus: Pitohui

[edit] Description

The Pitohui of New Guinea are famous for containing toxic substances that may be used for defence.
They are similar to the Shrike-thrushes in shape but they are larger in size and have a more robust bill and stronger legs.

[edit] Taxonomy

Pitohui is a genus in the family Pachycephalidae.
A recent study² reports that this genus is polyphyletic, i.e., it should either be split or some additional species be added until it becomes monophyletic (monophyletic means that all offspring of the last common ancestor of the included species are included in the grouping). The study additionally proposes that some of the similarities seen among the species have evolved as mimicry, and that toxicity has developed several times among the ancestors of the Pitohui.

[edit] References

1. Del Hoyo, J, A Elliott, and D Christie, eds. 2007. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8496553422
2. Dumbacher JP, Deiner K, Thompson L, Fleischer RC. 2008. Mol Phylogenet Evol. Abstract read in November 2008

• List of references