Ruvu weaver

Ruvu weaver
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Passeriformes
Family:	Ploceidae
Genus:	Ploceus
Species:	P. holoxanthus
Binomial name
	Ploceus holoxanthus; Hartlaub, 1891

The Ruvu weaver (Ploceus holoxanthus) is a species of bird in the family Ploceidae. It is endemic to eastern Tanzania.

Initially described as a distinct species by Gustav Hartlaub in 1891, it was synonymized with the eastern golden weaver (P. subaureus) by the majority of later authorities. However, critical morphological analysis in 2021 confirmed it as being a distinct species. It can be generally distinguished from P. subaureus by the darker brown eye of the male and the lighter lower mandible of the female.¹

It has a very restricted distribution in Tanzania, being only found along the Ruvu, Wami, and Rufiji river basins. Several colonies are known from the vicinity of Morogoro.¹

References

Oschadleus, H. Dieter; Andersson, Staffan Andersson; Baker, Neil E. (2021-03-08). "History and biology of the reassigned Ruvu Weaver Ploceus holoxanthus". Scopus: Journal of East African Ornithology. 41 (1): 1–12. ISSN 2313-1799.

Gill F, D Donsker & P Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v12.1). doi : 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.1

[:0-1] Oschadleus, H. Dieter; Andersson, Staffan Andersson; Baker, Neil E. (2021-03-08). "History and biology of the reassigned Ruvu Weaver Ploceus holoxanthus". Scopus: Journal of East African Ornithology. 41 (1): 1–12. ISSN 2313-1799.

1