| Larvivora | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Indian blue robin (Larvivora brunnea) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Passeriformes |
| Family: | Muscicapidae |
| Subfamily: | Saxicolinae |
| Genus: | Larvivora Hodgson, 1837 |
| Type species | |
| Larvivora cyana[1] Hodgson, 1837 | |
Larvivora is agenus of smallpasserine birds belonging to the Old World flycatcher familyMuscicapidae that occur in central and eastern Asia.
The species in this genus were all previously classified in other genera. A largemolecular phylogenetic study published on 2010 found that the generaLuscinia andErithacus as defined byEdward C. Dickinson in 2003 were notmonophyletic.[2][3] The genusLarvivora with thetype speciesLarvivora cyane was reinstated to accommodate a well-definedclade. Although therufous-headed robin was not included in the phylogenetic study, it was moved to the resurrected genus due to its structural, song and behavioural similarities with theIndian blue robin and theSiberian blue robin.[4][5]
The genusLarvivora had been introduced by the British naturalistBrian Houghton Hodgson in 1837.[6][7] The wordLarvivora comes from theNeo-Latinlarva meaning caterpillar and-vorus meaning eating (vorace to devour).[8]
The genus includes the following 8 species:[4]