Ptilinopus merrilli

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Columbimorphae
Ordo: Columbiformes

Familia: Columbidae
Subfamilia: Ptilinopinae
Genus: Ptilinopus
Species: Ptilinopus merrilli
Subspecies: P. m. faustinoi - P. m. merrilli
Name

Ptilinopus merrilli (McGregor, 1916)
References

The Philippine Journal of Science 11 sect.D p.269, fig.1. BHL
IUCN: Ptilinopus merrilli (Near Threatened)

Vernacular names
čeština: Holub Merrillův
Cymraeg: Turtur ffrwythau Merrill
Deutsch: Merrill-Fruchttaube
English: Cream-bellied Fruit-Dove
français: Ptilope de Merrill
Nederlands: Merrills jufferduif
norsk: Luzonfruktdue
پنجابی: کریمی چھاتیوالی کگی
svenska: gräddbukig fruktduva

The Cream-breasted fruit dove (Ptilinopus merrilli) or cream-bellied fruit dove is a species of bird in the family Columbidae. It is endemic to the Luzon region of the Philippines.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland to montane forests of up to 1,300 masl. It is threatened by habitat loss, and trapping for the pet trade.

It is illegal to hunt, capture or keep cream-breasted fruit-doves under Philippine Law RA 9147.[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

The cream-breasted fruit dove is one of over 50 species in the genus Ptilinopus. Within the genus, it is most closely allied with the flame-breasted fruit dove.[3]

It was formerly placed in the obsolete genus Leucotreron.[3] The species' generic name comes from the Greek ptilon (feather) and pous (foot), while the specific epithet is in honor of Elmer Drew Merrill, an American botanist.[4] Alternative names for the cream-breasted fruit dove include Merrill's fruit dove.[5]
Subspecies

P. m. merrilli – MacGregor, 1916: The nominate subspecies, found in southern Luzon from the southern part of the Sierra Madres down to Bicol and Catanduanes region
P. m. faustinoi – Manuel, 1936: Found in the mountains of northern Luzon starting from Quirino. Has a red crown patch.[3][6]

Habitat and Conservation Status

This frugivorous species is found chiefly in primary and selectively logged forest up to 1,300 m in the Sierra Madre.

This bird is listed as near-threatened with its primary threats being habitat loss and hunting for both food and the pet trade.
References

BirdLife International (2012). "Ptilinopus merrilli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
11th Congress. "Republic Act No. 9147". Official Gazette of the Philippines.
Baptista, Luis F.; Trail, Pepper W.; Horblit, H. M.; Boesman, Peter F. D.; Garcia, Ernest (2020-03-04). "Cream-breasted Fruit-Dove (Ptilinopus merrilli)". Birds of the World.
Jobling, James A. (2010). Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. Christopher Helm. pp. 255, 322. ISBN 978-1-4081-3326-2.
Gibbs & Barnes 2010, p. 462.

Gibbs & Barnes 2010, p. 463.

Cited text
Gibbs, David; Barnes, Eustace (2010). Pigeons and Doves: A Guide to Pigeons and Doves of the World. Christopher Helm. ISBN 978-1-4081-3555-6.