Stomiopera Explained

Stomiopera is a genus of honeyeaters endemic to Australia. It contains former members of Lichenostomus, and was created after a molecular phylogenetic analysis published in 2011 showed that the original genus was polyphyletic.^[1]

The genus contains two species:^[2]

Image	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
	Stomiopera unicolor		north Australia
	Stomiopera flava		northeast Australia

The name Stomiopera was first proposed by the German naturalist Ludwig Reichenbach in 1852.^[3] The word is derived from the Greek stomion meaning bridlebit or mouth and pēra meaning wallet or pouch.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Nyári . Á.S. . Joseph . L. . 2011 . Systematic dismantlement of Lichenostomus improves the basis for understanding relationships within the honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) and historical development of Australo–Papuan bird communities . Emu . 111 . 3 . 202–211 . 10.1071/mu10047. 85333285 .
2. Web site: Gill . Frank . Donsker . David . Honeyeaters . World Bird List Version 6.1 . International Ornithologists' Union. 28 January 2016 .
3. Book: Reichenbach, Ludwig . Ludwig Reichenbach . 1852 . Icones ad synopsin avium, Continuatio IX . Hofmeister . Leipzig . la . 3, middle column . This work consists of four unnumbered pages.
4. Book: Jobling, James A . 2010. The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names . Christopher Helm . London . 978-1-4081-2501-4 . 366 .