Kingdom Animalia Order Psittaciformes Family Psittaculidae Scientific name Vini Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Superfamily Psittacoidea Subfamily Loriinae Higher classification Lories and lorikeets | |
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Lower classifications Blue lorikeet, Ultramarine lorikeet, Blue‑crowned lorikeet, Kuhl's lorikeet, Stephen's lorikeet | ||
Vini is a genus of birds endemic to the islands of the tropical Pacific. There are five extant species of these small lorikeets ranging from eastern Fiji through Samoa, French Polynesia, and as far east as Henderson Island. All members of the genus have exceptional bright plumage, particularly the unusual all over blues of the blue lorikeet and the ultramarine lorikeet. The collared lory (Phigys solitarius) is sometimes considered to be in this genus.
The Vini lorikeets are highly threatened by human changes to their islands. Most species have been lost from a number of islands and two species became extinct before the arrival of European explorers in the Pacific. Today two species are listed as endangered species by the IUCN and two are considered vulnerable. They are primarily threatened by introduced species, such as rats, and habitat loss.
List of species: