Honeyeaters (Meliphagidae)

Cardinal Myzomela (Myzomela cardinalis) - HBW 13, p. 645

French: Myzomèle cardinal German: Kardinalhonigfresser Spanish: Mielero Cardenal
Other common names: Cardinal Honeyeater, Black-bellied Honeysucker; Samoan Cardinal Myzomela (nigriventris); Lifou Cardinal Myzomela (lifuensis)

Taxonomy: Certhia Cardinalis J. F. Gmelin, 1788, Tanna Island, Vanuatu.
Forms a superspecies with M. chermesina, M. chloroptera, M. wakoloensis, M. boiei, M. sanguinolenta, M. caledonica, M. rubratra and possibly M. erythromelas. Limits of this superspecies not certain and require study, especially regarding inclusion of M. erythromelas; further, M. erythrocephala, M. dammermani, M. kuehni and M. adolphinae are closely related to the group, M. vulnerata also may be, and possibly M. rosenbergii and the M. lafargei superspecies should be included. Present species sometimes treated as conspecific with M. chermesina; formerly treated as conspecific with M. rubatra, but differs in morphology and vocalizations. Race pulcherrima apparently a recent invader on San Cristobal (Solomon Is), possibly hybridizing with M. tristrami in the past. Eight subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

sanfordi Mayr, 1931 - Rennell, in S Solomon Is.
pulcherrima E. P. Ramsay, 1881 - San Cristobal, Ugi and Three Sisters Is, in SE Solomons.
sanctaecrucis F. Sarasin, 1913 - islands of Santa Cruz Group, including Nepani, Reef Is (Fenualoa, Lonlom), Duff Is, Nendo, Utupua, Vanikoro, and Torres Is (Hiu, Loh).

See all 8 subspecies

sanfordi Mayr, 1931 - Rennell, in S Solomon Is.
pulcherrima E. P. Ramsay, 1881 - San Cristobal, Ugi and Three Sisters Is, in SE Solomons.
sanctaecrucis F. Sarasin, 1913 - islands of Santa Cruz Group, including Nepani, Reef Is (Fenualoa, Lonlom), Duff Is, Nendo, Utupua, Vanikoro, and Torres Is (Hiu, Loh).
tucopiae Mayr, 1937 - Tucopia I (E of Vanikoro), in Santa Cruz Group.
tenuis Mayr, 1937 - Banks Is and N & C Vanuatu (S to Éfaté).
cardinalis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) - S Vanuatu (Erromango, Tanna, Aniwa, Futuna, Anatom).
lifuensis E. L. Layard & E. L. C. Layard, 1878 - Loyalty Is (Ouvéa, Lifou, Maré).
nigriventris Peale, 1848 - Samoa (Savai’i, Upolu and offshore islets of Apolima, Manono and Nu’utele) and W American Samoa (Tutuila).