Marianne white-eye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marianne white-eye |
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| Illustrated by Henrik Grønvold | |
| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Zosterops
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| Species: |
semiflavus
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| Marianne Island in red (top right) | |
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The Marianne white-eye (Zosterops semiflavus) was a small bird that is now extinct. It was also known as the Seychelles chestnut-sided white-eye or Seychelles yellow white-eye. This bird belonged to the white-eye family, which includes many small, active birds.
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What Was the Marianne White-eye?
The Marianne white-eye was first described as its own unique species in 1867 by a scientist named Edward Newton. For a while, some scientists thought it was just a type of Mayotte white-eye.
However, in 2006, a new study looked closely at the bird's family tree. This study showed that the Marianne white-eye was actually more closely related to other white-eye birds from places like Grande Comore and the Mascarenes. Because of this new information, the IOC decided to officially recognize it as a full and separate species again. The IUCN also agreed with this in 2016.
What Did the Marianne White-eye Look Like?
This little bird was about 10 cm (3.9 in) long, which is roughly the size of a small sparrow. Its wings were about 5.8 to 6.3 cm (2.3 to 2.5 in) long. The tail measured about 3.8 cm (1.5 in).
The Marianne white-eye had a pretty greenish-yellow body. Its sides were a lovely chestnut color. A clear white ring around its eyes made them stand out. The bird's forehead and a line just above its eyes were yellow. The top of its head and its back were a yellow-olive shade. Its wings and tail were black, and its belly was a pale yellow. It looked a bit like a type of Malagasy white-eye found on Mayotte. Sadly, we don't know anything about how it lived or what it ate.
Where Did the Marianne White-eye Live?
The Marianne white-eye is only known for sure from a tiny island called Marianne Island. This small island is made of granite and is part of the Seychelles. It's located about 6 km (3.7 mi) east of another island called La Digue.
Some old reports suggested that the bird might have also lived on other islands like Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette Island, and Mahé. However, these reports were never officially confirmed.
Why Did the Marianne White-eye Disappear?
The Marianne white-eye became extinct because its home was destroyed. People started clearing land on Marianne Island for farming. This habitat destruction meant the birds lost their natural living spaces.
Scientists believe the bird disappeared sometime between 1870 and 1900. The IUCN suggests it likely became extinct around 1888. An expedition in 1940, led by a zoologist named Desmond Vesey-Fitzgerald, tried to find the bird but couldn't. Today, there is only one known specimen of the Marianne white-eye. It is kept at the Natural History Museum in London.
