Lichmera

The genus Lichmera was introduced in 1851 by the German ornithologist Jean Cabanis. He listed two species in the new genus but did not specify a type species.^[2] In 1854 the French naturalist Charles Lucien Bonaparte designate the type as Glyciphila ocularis Gould, which is now treated as a subspecies of the brown honeyeater (Lichmera indistincta ocularis).^[3][4] The genus name Lichmera is from Ancient Greek λιχμηρης/likhmērēs meaning "licking with the tongue".^[5]

The genus contains nine species:^[6]

• Scaly-crowned honeyeater, Lichmera lombokia – western Lesser Sunda Islands (Lombok, Sumbawa, and Flores)
• Olive honeyeater, Lichmera argentauris – Lusaolate (north of central Seram), Kekek (east of Obi Islands), Damar Island (south of Halmahera; north, central Moluccas) and islets of Raja Ampat Islands (northwest of New Guinea)
• Brown honeyeater, Lichmera indistincta – Bali, Lesser Sunda Islands, Aru Islands, central south New Guinea and west, north, central, east Australia
• Grey-eared honeyeater, Lichmera incana – central, south Vanuatu and New Caledonia including Loyalty Islands
• Silver-eared honeyeater, Lichmera alboauricularis – central north and southeast New Guinea
• Scaly-breasted honeyeater, Lichmera squamata – Wetar and Leti to Babar Islands (east Lesser Sunda Islands) and Tayandu, Kai, and Tanimbar Islands (south Moluccas)
• Buru honeyeater, Lichmera deningeri – montane Buru (central west Moluccas)
• Seram honeyeater, Lichmera monticola – montane west, central Seram (central east Moluccas)
• Flame-eared honeyeater, Lichmera flavicans – Timor (east Lesser Sunda Islands)
• Black-necklaced honeyeater, Lichmera notabilis – Wetar (east Lesser Sunda Islands)