Calyptophilus


Calyptophilus is a genus of birds that are endemic to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola.

Taxonomy

The genus formerly placed in the family Thraupidae. The group was found to be distinct enough to be placed in its own family, Calyptophilidae. Established by Charles Barney Cory in 1884, it contains the following species:
These two species were formerly considered conspecific under C. frugivorus.
The name Calyptophilus comes from the Greek words kaluptēs, meaning "hider" and philos, meaning "loving", referring to the birds' elusive nature.

Genetic Connection

Researchers conducted a study of molecular phylogeography by utilizing a coalescent study, which resulted in all four genetic markers demonstrating substantial allele sharing within each of the two groups. This indicates that several of the now separated montane groups are suggested not to have been isolated not too long ago.