Variable dwarf kingfisher is a
common name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrast ...
of a group of
kingfishers in the genus, ''
Ceyx''.
The variable dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx lepidus'' or ''Alcedo lepidus'') formerly included 15 subspecies.
A
molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
study published in 2013 found that most of the insular subspecies had substantially diverged from one another.
The variable dwarf kingfisher was therefore split and 12 of the subspecies were promoted to species status. At the same time the name of the variable dwarf kingfisher was changed to the
Moluccan dwarf kingfisher.
The species in the group are:
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Moluccan dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx lepidus''
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Dimorphic dwarf kingfisher
The dimorphic dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx margarethae'') is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the central and southern Philippines. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The species is s ...
, ''Ceyx margarethae''
*
Sula dwarf kingfisher
The Sula dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx wallacii''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the Sula Islands in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. It was formerly considered to ...
, ''Ceyx wallacii''
*
Buru dwarf kingfisher
The Buru dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx cajeli''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to Buru Island in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
This species was formerly considered ...
, ''Ceyx cajeli''
*
Papuan dwarf kingfisher
The Papuan dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx solitarius''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the western Papuan islands, New Guinea, Aru Islands and the D'Entrecasteaux Archipelago. Its natural habitat is subtropical or t ...
, ''Ceyx solitarius''
*
Manus dwarf kingfisher
The Manus dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx dispar''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the Admiralty Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
This species was formerly considered on ...
, ''Ceyx dispar''
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New Ireland dwarf kingfisher
The New Ireland dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx mulcatus''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to New Hanover Island, New Ireland and the Lihir Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests ...
, ''Ceyx mulcatus''
*
New Britain dwarf kingfisher
The New Britain dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx sacerdotis''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to New Britain and Umboi Island. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
This species was forme ...
, ''Ceyx sacerdotis''
*
North Solomons dwarf kingfisher
The North Solomons dwarf kingfisher (''Ceyx meeki''), is a species of bird in the family Alcedinidae that is endemic to the west and central Solomon Islands. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
This species was ...
, ''Ceyx meeki''
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New Georgia dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx collectoris''
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Malaita dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx malaitae''
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Guadalcanal dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx nigromaxilla''
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Makira dwarf kingfisher, ''Ceyx gentianus''
References
{{Animal common name
Birds by common name