NATURAL HISTORY · CATALOGUE RECORD
Black-bellied Myzomela
Myzomela erythromelas Salvadori, 1881
Source-backed taxonomic record
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
The black-bellied myzomela (Myzomela erythromelas), also known as the splendid myzomela, is a species of bird in the family Meliphagidae. It is endemic to the large island of New Britain, near New Guinea. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. An adult is 9 to 10 cm (3.5 to 3.9 in), males weigh 7 to 9 g (0.25 to 0.32 oz) while females weigh 6.5 to 7.5 g (0.23 to 0.26 oz). Males have predominantly black plumage with a scarlet red hood. Females are slightly smaller than males with a mainly olive colored plumage and a red mask covering the forehead. Both male and females have a black bill. Black-bellied myzomela feed on nectar, often in small parties. It has also been recorded to forage with other species like ashy myzomela and red myzomela.
Wikipedia contributors, Black-bellied myzomela; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T07:53:01.676044+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Myzomela erythromelas Salvadori, 1881
- Name authority
- Salvadori, 1881
- Common name
- Black-bellied Myzomela
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Passeriformes
- Family
- Meliphagidae
- Genus
- Myzomela
- Extinction status
- Recorded extant
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- megaclassTetrapoda
- classAves
- orderPasseriformes
- familyMeliphagidae
- genusMyzomela Vigors & Horsfield, 1827
- speciesMyzomela erythromelas Salvadori, 1881
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Myzomela. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Drab MyzomelaMyzomela blasii (Salvadori, 1882) | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Cardinal HoneyeaterMyzomela cardinalis (J. F. Gmelin, 1788) | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Ruby-throated MyzomelaMyzomela eques (R. Lesson & Garnot, 1827) | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Red-headed MyzomelaMyzomela erythrocephala Gould, 1840 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Crimson-hooded MyzomelaMyzomela kuehni Rothschild, 1903 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Red-capped MyzomelaMyzomela lafargei Pucheran, 1853 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Malaita MyzomelaMyzomela malaitae Mayr, 1931 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Black MyzomelaMyzomela nigrita G. R. Gray, 1858 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Bismarck Black MyzomelaMyzomela pammelaena P. L. Sclater, 1877 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Red-collared MyzomelaMyzomela rosenbergii Schlegel, 1871 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Scarlet MyzomelaMyzomela sanguinolenta (Latham, 1801) | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
| Scarlet-bibbed MyzomelaMyzomela sclateri W. A. Forbes, 1879 | MeliphagidaeChordata | Accepted speciesRecorded extant |
Documented distribution
Source distribution statements, not a complete range map. A listed locality is not necessarily a place of origin.
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=561447 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:45HVT. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.