AVITOPIA - Mohos

The small family of Mohos is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This family was only established in 2008, when it was found on the basis of DNA studies that the five species do not belong to the honeyeaters, as previously assumed. Through convergent evolution, they share many traits with honeyeaters, such as nectar nutrition, a long curved beak and a long tongue with a brush-like tip. Their body length is 20 cm to 33 cm. The Mohos are the only family of birds that became completely extinct in modern times; the Kauai Oo did not become extinct until 1987. The reason for the extinction is the habitat destruction combined with the introduction of predatory mammals and bird malaria in the Hawaiian Islands.