Geospiza

Geospiza is a genus of bird in the family Thraupidae. All species in the genus are endemic to the Galápagos Islands. Together with related genera, they are collectively known as Darwin's finches. Although in the past, they were classified in the bunting and American sparrow family Emberizidae, more recent studies have shown they belong in the tanager family.

Geospiza
Small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Thraupidae
Genus: Geospiza
Gould, 1837

Etymology

The genus name Geospiza derives from the two Ancient Greek words γῆ (gê), meaning "earth", and σπίζα (spíza), a catch-all term for finch-like birds.[1][2]

Systematics

Species

The genus contains the following species.[3]

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Geospiza conirostrisEspañola cactus finchGalápagos islands
Geospiza difficilisSharp-beaked ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza septentrionalisVampire ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza acutirostrisGenovesa ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza fortisMedium ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza fuliginosaSmall ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza magnirostrisLarge ground finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza scandensCommon cactus finchGalápagos Islands
Geospiza propinquaGenovesa cactus finchGalápagos Islands

Hybrids

A purported hybrid species (informally nicknamed "Big Bird") endemic to Daphne Major and formed almost four decades prior by hybridization between a vagrant Geospiza conirostris and a Geospiza fortis was also reported in 2017, though it has yet to be formally described.[4]

References
  1. Bailly, Anatole (1981-01-01). Abrégé du dictionnaire grec français. Paris: Hachette. ISBN 978-2010035289. OCLC 461974285.
  2. Bailly, Anatole. "Greek-french dictionary online". www.tabularium.be. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  3. "ITIS Report: Geospiza". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  4. Lamichhaney, Sangeet; Han, Fan; Webster, Matthew T.; Andersson, Leif; Grant, B. Rosemary; Grant, Peter R. (2017-11-23). "Rapid hybrid speciation in Darwin's finches". Science. 359 (6372): 224–228. doi:10.1126/science.aao4593. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 29170277.
  • Media related to Geospiza at Wikimedia Commons


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