Post by Sebbe on Jul 30, 2013 19:49:18 GMT
The "Grand Comoro Blue Vanga" Cyanolanius madagascarinus bensoni was described by Louette & Herremans (1982) from Mt. Karthala on Grande Comoro based on an immature specimen. The validity of this race has since then been questioned (Louette 1988, 2004). It may be a synonym of Cyanolanius madagascarinus comoroensis (Shelley, 1894) found on Mohéli in the Comoro Islands. It is still treated as a valid subspecies and by analogy with other species with similar distributions seperate subspecies could be expected on Mohéli and Grande Comoro (Yamagishi & Nakamura, 2009; Sinclair & Langrand, 2013; Schulenberg, 2013). Some authors treat the "Comoro Blue Vanga" Cyanolanius comoroensis as a seperate species from "Madagascar Blue Vanga" Cyanolanius madagascarinus (Sinclair & Langrand, 2013) but the taxonomic status of the populations on the Comoro Islands is not yet fully resolved so still treated as subspecies of Cyanolanius madagascarinus by most recent authors (Yamagishi & Nakamura, 2009; Schulenberg, 2013).
According Louette & Herremans (1982) and HBW 14 (Yamagishi & Nakamura, 2009) it is known from observations in June-July 1974, with two further observations in August 1981, no further records since then so possibly extinct. Also listed as possibly extinct by Sinclair & Langrand (2013). However, single sightings made in degraded forest above Tsinimouapanga in February 2010 and near Tsinimouapanga in March 2011 (Schulenberg, 2013).
According Louette & Herremans (1982) and HBW 14 (Yamagishi & Nakamura, 2009) it is known from observations in June-July 1974, with two further observations in August 1981, no further records since then so possibly extinct. Also listed as possibly extinct by Sinclair & Langrand (2013). However, single sightings made in degraded forest above Tsinimouapanga in February 2010 and near Tsinimouapanga in March 2011 (Schulenberg, 2013).
