| Microptilotis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Graceful honeyeater (Microptilotis gracilis) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Meliphagidae |
| Genus: | Microptilotis Mathews, 1912 |
Microptilotis is a genus of birds in the honeyeater familyMeliphagidae.
The genus was introduced in 1912 by the Australian ornithologistGregory Mathews with thegraceful honeyeater (Microptilotis gracilis) as thetype species.[1] The genus nameMicroptilotis combines theAncient Greekmikros meaning "small" and the genus namePtilotis.[2]
The genus contains 10 species:[3]
The species now placed inMicroptilotis were formerly placed in the genusMeliphaga. Whenmolecular phylogenetic studies found thatMeliphaga contained two distinct clades, the genus was split and many of the species transferred to the resurrected genusMicroptilotis.[3][4][5]
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