Anthochaera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anthochaera
Red wattlebird (Anthochaera carunculata)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Meliphagidae
Genus:	Anthochaera Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
Type species
Merops chrysopterus Latham, 1801
Species
See text

Anthochaera is a group of birds known as a genus that belongs to the honeyeater family. These birds are originally from Australia. The group includes several well-known species like the little wattlebird, the red wattlebird, the western wattlebird, and the yellow wattlebird. Scientists have also found that the regent honeyeater is part of this same group, based on their DNA.

What Are Wattles?

Of the five species in the Anthochaera group, only the yellow wattlebird (Anthochaera paradoxa) and the red wattlebird (A. carunculata) have special features called wattles. Wattles are soft, fleshy parts that hang from a bird's cheeks, neck, or throat. They are often wrinkled and can be brightly colored. Birds likely use their wattles to show off or attract a mate.

It's good to know that the name "wattlebird" is also sometimes used for other types of birds that are not related to the Anthochaera genus.

About Their Name and Family

The Anthochaera genus was first described in 1827 by two scientists, Nicholas Aylward Vigors and Thomas Horsfield. Later, in 1884, a German bird expert named Hans Friedrich Gadow chose the little wattlebird as the main example for this group.

The name Anthochaera comes from two ancient Greek words: anthos, which means "flower" or "bloom," and khairō, which means "to enjoy." So, the name can be thought of as "flower-enjoyer."

The regent honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia) used to be in its own group called Xanthomyza. But after looking closely at their DNA, scientists realized it actually belongs with the Anthochaera birds.

Scientists use something called a cladogram to show how different animals are related. This helps us understand their family tree. The cladogram below shows how the wattlebirds are connected to each other.

Species and Where They Live

The Anthochaera genus includes the following bird species:

Image	Common Name	Scientific Name	Where They Live
	Red wattlebird	Anthochaera carunculata	Found in southeast Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and southwest Western Australia.
	Little wattlebird	Anthochaera chrysoptera	Lives along the coast and nearby areas of southeastern Australia.
	Yellow wattlebird	Anthochaera paradoxa	Only found in Tasmania.
	Western wattlebird	Anthochaera lunulata	Lives in southwestern Australia.
	Regent honeyeater	Anthochaera phrygia	Found in South Eastern Australia.

See also

In Spanish: Anthochaera para niños