Two new bird species from the Meratus Mountains (1 Viewer)

[Peter Kovalik]

Irham, M., Haryoko, T., Shakya, S.B. et al. Description of two new bird species from the Meratus Mountains of southeast Borneo, Indonesia. J Ornithol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01937-2

Abstract:

We describe two new bird species from the Meratus Mountains of southeastern Borneo, Indonesia: a jungle-fycatcher (genus Cyornis) and a white-eye (genus Zosterops). Our descriptions are based on comparisons of plumage, mitochondrial ND2 DNA sequences, and vocalizations of the new species and their congeners. The new Meratus jungle-fycatcher is most closely related to Cyornis montanus but morphologically distinguished by lighter blue on the upperparts and more whitish and less reddish on the underparts. The new Meratus white-eye is most closely related to Zosterops chloris but distinguished by olive upperparts and darker underparts. Vocalizations and genetic divergence values also corroborate species status for both new taxa. Both new species are probably confned to the Meratus Mountains, which are currently surrounded by degraded lower elevation secondary woodland or converted agricultural landscape. They appear to have diverged from their sister species through geographic isolation in this remote mountain range compounded by altered population dynamics in a depauperate montane bird community. Although both species are relatively common in the restricted area of the Meratus Mountains, continued habitat alteration and the imminent threat of poaching may be in the process of endangering them. Therefore, we recommend the IUCN Red List status of “Vulnerable” for the new species based on criteria B1 and B2.

Cyornis kadayangensis, sp. nov.
Meratus Jungle Flycatcher
Sikatan Kadayang

Zosterops meratusensis sp. nov.
Meratus White-eye
Kacamata Meratus

 

[Jim LeNomenclatoriste]

Irham, M., Haryoko, T., Shakya, S.B. et al. Description of two new bird species from the Meratus Mountains of southeast Borneo, Indonesia. J Ornithol (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01937-2

Abstract:

We describe two new bird species from the Meratus Mountains of southeastern Borneo, Indonesia: a jungle-fycatcher (genus Cyornis) and a white-eye (genus Zosterops). Our descriptions are based on comparisons of plumage, mitochondrial ND2 DNA sequences, and vocalizations of the new species and their congeners. The new Meratus jungle-fycatcher is most closely related to Cyornis montanus but morphologically distinguished by lighter blue on the upperparts and more whitish and less reddish on the underparts. The new Meratus white-eye is most closely related to Zosterops chloris but distinguished by olive upperparts and darker underparts. Vocalizations and genetic divergence values also corroborate species status for both new taxa. Both new species are probably confned to the Meratus Mountains, which are currently surrounded by degraded lower elevation secondary woodland or converted agricultural landscape. They appear to have diverged from their sister species through geographic isolation in this remote mountain range compounded by altered population dynamics in a depauperate montane bird community. Although both species are relatively common in the restricted area of the Meratus Mountains, continued habitat alteration and the imminent threat of poaching may be in the process of endangering them. Therefore, we recommend the IUCN Red List status of “Vulnerable” for the new species based on criteria B1 and B2.

Cyornis kadayangensis, sp. nov.
Meratus Jungle Flycatcher
Sikatan Kadayang

Zosterops meratusensis sp. nov.
Meratus White-eye
Kacamata Meratus

You know my mail 😉

 

[Paul Clapham]

Would I be correct in assuming that "Sikatan Kadayang" and "Kacamata Meratus" are vernacular names in Bahasa Indonesia?

 

[Mike Earp]

Would I be correct in assuming that "Sikatan Kadayang" and "Kacamata Meratus" are vernacular names in Bahasa Indonesia?

I can't answer that but this is what the OD gives under Etymology:

Cyornis kadayangensis is named after Kadayang, a Dayak village in the Meratus Mountains (2.7465 S 115.5555 E).

Zosterops meratusensis is named for its type locality, the Meratus Mountains. It is likely restricted to this mountain range, which is isolated by >300 km from Borneo’s main chain of high mountains.

 

[James Lowther]

Would I be correct in assuming that "Sikatan Kadayang" and "Kacamata Meratus" are vernacular names in Bahasa Indonesia?

if you google
Sikatan
and
Kacamata bird
you get lots of bird images, assorted nightingales, flycatchers and fantails, and birds with "spectacles" e.g. white-eyes respectively.
So i would say it looks like you are correct
James

 

[James Lowther]

p.s. also worth mentioning that of course both taxa are illustrated in Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago
James

 

[Paul Clapham]

if you google
Sikatan
and
Kacamata bird

Good point... Google Translate says that "Kacamata Meratus", translated from Indonesian, means "Meratus Glasses" in English. So. yeah... Meratus White-eye... makes sense.

 

[James Eaton]

Would I be correct in assuming that "Sikatan Kadayang" and "Kacamata Meratus" are vernacular names in Bahasa Indonesia?

Correct. Sikatan = flycatcher and kacamata = white-eye. However, in the Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago, the Meratus Jungle-flycatcher is named sikatan-rimba meratus (=flycatcher-jungle Meratus).

 

[cendrawasih]

if you google
Sikatan
and
Kacamata bird
you get lots of bird images, assorted nightingales, flycatchers and fantails, and birds with "spectacles" e.g. white-eyes respectively.
So i would say it looks like you are correct
James

Indonesian name can be complicated since birder and aviculturist used different terms, especially the later since they don't follow modern taxonomy and varies between location. Sikatan refers to fantail in most aviculturist, but we birder use it for flycatchers.