Primitive Koa-finch
Encyclopedia
The Primitive Koa-finch (Rhodacanthis litotes) is a species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper
subfamily, Drepanididae. It was endemic to Hawaii
. Of the four species in the genus Telespiza
, it and the Scissor-billed Koa-finch
became extinct
before the arrival of the first Europeans to Hawaii in 1778. It is known as the ancestor of all Koa Finches.
s have been found on Maui
and Oahu
. It is believed that it inhabited lowland dry forests and savannas
, where dominant plant species included ka palupalu o kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis), aalii (Dodonaea viscosa
), loulu (Pritchardia
spp.), and koaia (Acacia koaia
). Unlike other species of Rhodacanthis
, koa (Acacia koa) was not present in significant numbers in its habitat.
, with a bill adapted to eat the hard seeds and pods of legumes, especially ka palupalu o kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis
) and koaia (Acacia koaia
). It may have also taken caterpillar
s and aalii (Dodonaea viscosa
) berries
, as these were observed being eaten by other species in the genus.
remains. Other Hawaiian honeycreeper
s are known to have become extinct or very rare due to habitat loss, introduced predators and avian diseases. It is possible the extinction of the Primitive Koa-finch also involved these factors.
Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreepers are small, passerine birds endemic to Hawaii. Some authorities still categorize this group as a family Drepanididae, but in recent years, most authorities consider them a subfamily, Drepanidinae, of Fringillidae, the finch family...
subfamily, Drepanididae. It was endemic to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. Of the four species in the genus Telespiza
Telespiza
Telespiza is a genus of finches in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanididae. All species in it are or were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.-Species:* Telespiza cantans Wilson, 1890 - Laysan Finch...
, it and the Scissor-billed Koa-finch
Scissor-billed Koa-finch
The Scissor-billed Koa-finch, or Scissor Finch is an extinct species of finch in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanididae. Of the four species in the genus Rhodacanthis, the Scissor-billed Koa Finch and the Primitive Koa-finch became extinct before the arrival of the first Europeans to...
became extinct
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
before the arrival of the first Europeans to Hawaii in 1778. It is known as the ancestor of all Koa Finches.
Description
An adult Primitive Koa-finch was slender and had a total length of about 8 inches (20.3 cm). There was probably a small distinct difference between the sexes. Based on fossils, it is known that the adult Primitive Koa Finch had a slightly curved, thick bill.Distribution
Primitive Koa-finch fossilFossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s have been found on Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
and Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. It is believed that it inhabited lowland dry forests and savannas
Hawaiian tropical low shrublands
The Hawaiian tropical low shrublands are a tropical savanna ecoregion in the Hawaiian Islands. These shrublands cover an area of in the leeward lowlands of the main islands and most of the smaller islands, including the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The ecoregion includes both grasslands and...
, where dominant plant species included ka palupalu o kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis), aalii (Dodonaea viscosa
Dodonaea viscosa
Dodonaea viscosa is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of Africa, the Americas, southern Asia and Australasia.-Description:...
), loulu (Pritchardia
Pritchardia
The genus Pritchardia consists of between 24-40 species of fan palms found on tropical Pacific Ocean islands in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotus, and Hawaii. The generic name honours William Thomas Pritchard , a British consul at Fiji.-Description:These palms vary in height, ranging from...
spp.), and koaia (Acacia koaia
Acacia koaia
Acacia koaia, known as koaia or koaie in Hawaiian, is a tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is closely related to koa , and is sometimes considered to be the same species...
). Unlike other species of Rhodacanthis
Rhodacanthis
Rhodacanthis is an extinct genus of finches in the Hawaiian honeycreeper subfamily, Drepanidinae. All four species were endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Members of this genus were granivores, with bills adapted to the seeds and pods of legumes. The two species that became extinct in the 1890s,...
, koa (Acacia koa) was not present in significant numbers in its habitat.
Diet
The Primitive Koa-finch was a granivoreSeed predation
Seed predation, often referred to as granivory, is a type of plant-animal interaction in which granivores feed on the seeds of plants as a main or exclusive food source, in many cases leaving the seeds damaged and not viable...
, with a bill adapted to eat the hard seeds and pods of legumes, especially ka palupalu o kanaloa (Kanaloa kahoolawensis
Kanaloa (botany)
Kanaloa kahoolawensis, the Ka palupalu o Kanaloa or kohe malama malama o kanaloa, is a species of flowering plant in the legume family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is the only plant the monotypic genus Kanaloa...
) and koaia (Acacia koaia
Acacia koaia
Acacia koaia, known as koaia or koaie in Hawaiian, is a tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is endemic to Hawaii. It is closely related to koa , and is sometimes considered to be the same species...
). It may have also taken caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
s and aalii (Dodonaea viscosa
Dodonaea viscosa
Dodonaea viscosa is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry family, Sapindaceae, that has a cosmopolitan distribution in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of Africa, the Americas, southern Asia and Australasia.-Description:...
) berries
Berry
The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary. Grapes are an example. The berry is the most common type of fleshy fruit in which the entire ovary wall ripens into an edible pericarp. They may have one or more carpels with a thin covering and fleshy interiors....
, as these were observed being eaten by other species in the genus.
Status
Due to its early extinction, very little is known about this species. It is only known from fossilFossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
remains. Other Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreeper
Hawaiian honeycreepers are small, passerine birds endemic to Hawaii. Some authorities still categorize this group as a family Drepanididae, but in recent years, most authorities consider them a subfamily, Drepanidinae, of Fringillidae, the finch family...
s are known to have become extinct or very rare due to habitat loss, introduced predators and avian diseases. It is possible the extinction of the Primitive Koa-finch also involved these factors.