| Spinebill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eastern spinebill (Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Acanthorhynchus Gould, 1837[1] |
| Type species | |
| Certhia tenuirostris[2] Latham, 1801 | |
| Species | |
Spinebill is the name given to two members of thehoneyeater family, both in the genusAcanthorhynchus, which is Latin for "spine bill". They are around 15 centimetres in length, and are coloured black, white and chestnut, with a long, downcurvedbill. They are native toAustralia, with one species in the east and one in the west. They feed onnectar as well asinsects, and live mainly inforests,gardens, and other shrubberyhabitats.
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]
The genus contains two species.[4]
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western spinebill
Male
| Acanthorhynchus superciliosus Gould, 1837 | south-western Australia | Size: Habitat: Diet: | LC |
| Eastern spinebill
Male
| Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris (Latham, 1801) | North Queensland south through New South Wales, eastern South Australia as well as throughout Tasmania | Size: Habitat: Diet: | LC |
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