Spinebill

Spinebill
	Eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Meliphagidae
Genus:	Acanthorhynchus; Gould, 1837
Type species
	Certhia tenuirostris; Latham, 1801
Species
	Acanthorhynchus superciliosus ; Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris

Spinebill is the name given to two members of the honeyeater family, both in the genus Acanthorhynchus, which is Latin for "spine bill". They are around 15 centimetres in length, and are coloured black, white and chestnut, with a long, downcurved bill. They are native to Australia, with one species in the east and one in the west. They feed on nectar as well as insects, and live mainly in forests, gardens, and other shrubbery habitats.

A 2004 molecular study has shown that the two spinebills are a sister grouping to all other honeyeaters, that is, they diverged earlier than all other species.^[3]

Species and distribution

The genus contains two species.^[4]

Genus **Acanthorhynchus** – Gould, 1837 – two species
Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Western spinebill Male Female	Acanthorhynchus superciliosus Gould, 1837	south-western Australia	Size: Habitat: Diet:	LC
Eastern spinebill Male Female	Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Latham, 1801)	North Queensland south through New South Wales, eastern South Australia as well as throughout Tasmania	Size: Habitat: Diet:	LC

References

^ Gould, J. (1837). "Characteristics of New Species of Australian Birds". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 6: 24–25.
^ "Melaphagidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.
^ Driskell, Amy C.; Christidis, Les (2004). "Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 31 (3): 943–60. Bibcode:2004MolPE..31..943D. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.017. PMID 15120392. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-01.
^ Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Honeyeaters". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 3 April 2020.

External links

Basic information, eastern spinebill - Birds in Backyards
Photos, eastern spinebill - Australian Birds Image Database

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[Gould,_1837-1] Gould, J. (1837). "Characteristics of New Species of Australian Birds". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 6: 24–25.

[HM4-2] "Melaphagidae". aviansystematics.org. The Trust for Avian Systematics. Retrieved 2023-07-16.

[3] Driskell, Amy C.; Christidis, Les (2004). "Phylogeny and evolution of the Australo-Papuan honeyeaters (Passeriformes, Meliphagidae)" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 31 (3): 943–60. Bibcode:2004MolPE..31..943D. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.017. PMID 15120392. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-01.

[ioc-4] Gill, Frank; Donsker, David; Rasmussen, Pamela, eds. (2020). "Honeyeaters". IOC World Bird List Version 10.1. International Ornithologists' Union. Retrieved 3 April 2020.

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