Zosterops (meaning "eye-girdle") is agenus ofpasserine birds containing thetypical white-eyes in the white-eye familyZosteropidae. The genus has the largest number ofspecies in the white-eye family. They occur in theAfrotropical,Indomalayan, andAustralasian realms. Typical white-eyes have a length of between 8 and 15 cm (3 and 6 in). Their most characteristic feature is a conspicuous white featherring around the eye, though some species lack it. The species in this group vary in the structural adaptations of the tongue.[1] TheZosterops [griseotinctus] group is an example of a "great speciator" inhabiting a vast area and showing a remarkable morphological differentiation on islands, some of which may be as close as 2 km (1.2 mi) apart.[2]
The results of a series of molecular phylogenetic studies of theZosteropidae published between 2014 and 2018 prompted a major revision of species limits, in which 10 new genera were introduced. In the reorganisation, the English names of three of the existing genera were replaced.[7][8][9][10][11]
Additionally, a study onSri Lanka white-eyes (Zosterops ceylonensis) andIndian white-eyes (Zosterops palpebrosus) suggests that the Sri Lanka white-eye is the root species and the origin of allZosterops species.[12] This raises questions upon the former theory of Southeast Asian origin.
There are over 100 species in the genus. This includes three species (denoted by a dagger† in the list below) that have become extinct since the 16th century.[11]
^Lim, B.T.M.; Sadanandan, K.R.; Dingle, C.; Leung, Y.Y.; Prawiradilaga, D.M.; Irham, M.; Ashari, H.; Lee, J.G.H.; Rheindt, F.E. (2018). "Molecular evidence suggests radical revision of species limits in the great speciator white‑eye genusZosterops".Journal of Ornithology.160:1–16.doi:10.1007/s10336-018-1583-7.S2CID254162519.
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