The PrÃÂncipe seedeater (Crithagra rufobrunnea) is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae. It is found only on the islands of São Tomé and PrÃÂncipe off the west coast of Africa. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest and subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest.
The PrÃÂncipe seedeater was formerly placed in the genus Serinus but phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences found that the genus was polyphyletic. The genus was therefore split and a number of species including the PrÃÂncipe seedeater were moved to the resurrected genus Crithagra.
Subspecies
Three subspecies are currently recognised:
- Crithagra rufobrunnea rufobrunnea, the nominate subspecies, endemic to PrÃÂncipe. Colour cinnamon-brown.
- Crithagra rufobrunnea thomensis, endemic to São Tomé. More greenish than the other subspecies, with a dull olive-brown colouration and a off-white patch on the throat.
- Crithagra rufobrunnea fradei, endemic to the Jockey's Bonnet islet off the southern coast of PrÃÂncipe. Larger than the nominate subspecies, with somewhat more reddish coloration and a darker bill.
References
Further reading
- Christy, P. & Clarke, W. V. (1998). Guide des oiseaux de São Tomé et PrÃÂncipe (Guide to the Birds of São Tomé and PrÃÂncipe). Libreville, Ecofac, 106 pages
- Jones, P. J. & Tye, A. (2006). The Birds of São Tomé and PrÃÂncipe with Annobón, islands of the Gulf of Guinea. British Ornithologists' Union, Oxford, 192 pages
- Melo, M. (2007). Bird speciation in the Gulf of Guinea. PhD, School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh.
- Naurois, de, R. (1975). Les Carduelinae des îles de São Tomé et PrÃÂncipe (Golfe de Guinée) (Carduelinae in the Islands of São Tomé and PrÃÂncipe (Gulf of Guinea)). Ardeola 21 : 903âÂÂ931.