[Alan Manson]

Discussion thread for Bornean Spiderhunter. If you would like to add a comment, click the Post Reply button.
--------------------

Bornean Spiderhunter Arachnothera everetti recognised by S&M96, but not by Clements07 and H&M03.

Delete Bornean Spiderhunter?

S&M96 had 2 subspecies; it appears that Clements07 has one of them in Gray-breasted Spiderhunter (Arachnothera modesta pars) and the other in Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter
(Arachnothera affinis everetti)?

[njlarsen]

I was unable to find more information on this using a quick search. The second part of your message, about splitting and merging the two subspecies into two different other species indicates to me that this might be a good time to post a question in the taxonomy forum.

Niels

[wintibird]

I received the new Handbook of the Birds of the World three days ago and the Spiderhunters are included. Voila:

Bornean Spiderhunter is not accepted. The HBW accepts:
Arachnothera affinis (Streaky-breasted Spiderhunter) with affinis on Java and Bali and everetti on Borneo. I cite:
Sometimes considered to form a superspecies with A. modesta (Grey-breasted Spiderhunter); the two overlap in range in Borneo, but are segregated by altitude. Nominate race (affinis) previously treated as conspecific with A. modesta; everetti then regarded as a separate, montane species, but evidence of occurence of nominate as a mountain form in Java and Bali suggests that the two are conspecific, separated from lowland taxa (now combined in A. modesta). Proposed race pars, described from R Birang (N Kalimantan) in Borneo considered to be inseparable from everetti.

Arachnothera modesta (Grey-breasted Spiderhunter) would have three subspecies: caena from S Burma to SW Thailand; modesta on the Malay Peninsula and Borneo and concolor on Sumatra.

Hope this helps

André

[njlarsen]

Nice, André !


Niels

[Alan Manson]

Originally Posted by wintibird

Hope this helps

Thanks André, it sure does!

By the way, does HBW still follow the sunbird taxonomy of Irwin 1999 (adopted by H&M 03 and Clements 07)? Molecular work by Bowie indicated that the sunbirds may be due for another reshuffle.