(CNS): The Grand Cayman bullfinch has been reclassified as a separate species, Melopyrrha taylori, having previously been considered a subspecies of a monotypic West Indian genus. As of this month, the American Ornithological Society now recognises the Cayman bullfinch and the Cuban bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra) as two endemic species. The decision was a belated response to a 2014 paper by four authors from Cuba and two from the Cayman Islands, the National Trust for the Cayman Islands said in a release.
Local wildlife expert and one of the authors, Patricia E. Bradley, said the endemic split had already been recognised by other world ornithological councils. As a single-island endemic species of restricted range, the bullfinch is likely to be reclassified on the IUCN Red List of endangered species to a near-threatened species of global concern.
In modern times, the bullfinch…
Related Articles
The post Native bullfinch will get ‘Cayman standing’ appeared first on CaymanMama.com.
This post first appeared on Press Release Distribution | Submit Press Release, please read the originial post: here