Re-examination of the current distribution of two endemic malkohas from Greater Luzon PAIC, the Philippines

Abstract

This study was conducted to re-examine the geographic distribution and update the existing maps and distribution data of the two Greater Luzon Philippine malkohas ( Lepidogrammus cumingi and Dasylophus superciliosus ) derived from museum specimens and online anecdotes. Precise locality of each skin specimen from various museum collections and recent field accounts from various online platforms on the occurrence of these malkohas were collected, plotted, and compared with the existing distribution maps from the BirdLife International using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) software. Results showed that the data collected on the locations of the two endemic Philippine malkohas revealed that L. cumingi and D. superciliosus exhibited broader range on their distributions compared to the existing BirdLife International distribution data. Furthermore, the collected distribution data also revealed that the subspecies D. s. cagayanensis is not restricted in the northeast region of Cagayan province but also occurs in its southern regions as well as in the provinces of Benguet and Nueva Vizcaya. The updated and generated maps of the distribution of these birds constitutes a significant range extension that will serve as additional information in the proper implementation of conservation management plan of the Philippine Malkohas.