Vini

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Classis: Aves
Subclassis: Carinatae
Infraclassis: Neornithes
Parvclassis: Neognathae
Ordo: Psittaciformes
Familia: Psittacidae
Subfamilia: Loriinae
Genus: Vini
Species: V. australis - V. kuhlii - V. peruviana - V. stepheni - V. ultramarina

Name

Vini Lesson, 1833

Vini is a genus of birds endemic to the islands of the tropical Pacific. There are five extant species of these small lorikeets ranging from eastern Fiji through Samoa, French Polynesia, and as far east as Henderson Island. All members of the genus have exceptional bright plumage, particularly the unusual all over blues of the Blue Lorikeet and the Ultramarine Lorikeet. The Collared Lory (Phigys solitarius) is sometimes considered to be in this genus.

The Vini lorikeets are highly threatened by human changes to their islands. Most species have been lost from a number of islands and two species became extinct before the arrival of European explorers in the Pacific. Today two species are listed as endangered species by the IUCN and two are considered vulnerable. They are primarily threatened by introduced species, such as rats, and habitat loss.

List of species:

* Blue-crowned Lorikeet, Vini australis
* Kuhl's Lorikeet, Vini kuhlii
* Stephen's Lorikeet, Vini stepheni
* Violet Lorikeet, Vini peruviana
* Ultramarine Lorikeet, Vini ultramarina
* †Sinoto's Lorikeet, Vini sinotoi (extinct)
* †Conquered Lorikeet, Vini vidivici (extinct)

References

* Steadman D, (2006). Extinction and Biogeography in Tropical Pacific Birds, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 978-0-226-77142-7