Rhodacanthis


Rhodacanthis, commonly known as the koa finches, is an extinct genus of Hawaiian honeycreeper in the subfamily Carduelinae of the family Fringillidae. All four species were endemic to Hawaii.

Habitat and diet

Members of this genus were granivores, with bills adapted to the seeds and pods of legumes. The two species that became extinct in the 1890s, R. flaviceps and R. palmeri, inhabited upper elevation Hawaiian [tropical rainforests#Mixed mesic forests|mesic forests] dominated by koa on the island of Hawaii. Both were large birds; R. flaviceps measured, while R. palmeri was in length. The combination of a giant bill with brightly colored plumage gave the males a very striking appearance. Koa seeds were the preferred food for the two species, but caterpillars were taken if necessary. The two prehistoric species, R. forfex and R. litotes'', were denizens of more lowland Hawaiian [tropical dry forests|tropical dry forests] and Hawaiian [tropical low shrublands|shrublands] on Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. It is speculated that koaia was an important food source for both species, as their range did not overlap with that of koa. Kanaloa pods and aalii berries were probably also eaten in addition to the occasional caterpillar.

Species